Freelancing and planning vacations

May 19, 2010

It is quickly coming to that time of year where you may be thinking about vacation time. For the typical freelance professional, vacations all too often mean a stolen Friday or Monday and a week prior or immediately following playing catch-up. It does not have to be this way. There are some steps that you can take today that can help you plan your summer get-away free from the burden of worrying about being buried in work when you return. There are also financial considerations, since as a freelancer, you’re not being paid for your time off.

Start today

Vacation Pay

Get prepared today for your vacation. Start salting away a small amount of your earnings to enable you to build up a reserve fund that will carry you through the week(s) of your vacation. You should already know what you need for income to survive through a month. The sooner you start planning your “vacation pay” the better.

Work Preparedness

As soon as you have a good idea about when you plan to take time off, let your clients know about it. Ask if they have upcoming projects that can be completed prior to your vacation time. If they do this can also help you add to your vacation pay fund. Another thing you should do is speak to your clients about how they might feel about having someone do work while you are out if the need arises. This of course does assume that you have a counterpart whom you would feel comfortable referring work to.

Use common sense

If you have long term clients there is a good chance that you know when their “slow” times are. If you know that the busiest part of a month is during the first two weeks, don’t plan your vacation time until the end of the month. Using some common sense will allow you to take your vacation, enjoy your time off and not be buried in work when you return.

Vacation is important

One thing you need to make sure of is that your clients do not tie you to your desk or computer when you really should be taking a break. Having a real break from work will allow you to come back to work with a fresh outlook and approach your work with a fresh eye. Your vacation is important so that you do not suffer burnout. Remember, you are not the energizer bunny, you do need time off to rest and relax.

Summary

Start planning now for your summer vacation. It is important to you and even if your clients do not know it, it’s important for them too. If your clients are upset about your planning time off, it’s time to start looking for new clients. Chances are they are going to take time off, they need to understand that you need time off too.

About Doreen Martel

Well-rounded freelance writer who contributes to various blogs, paid to write sites and revenue sharing sites. Doreen is legally blind and has worked at home for more than 10 years. She uses the lessons learned from this experience to enhance her writing and share information with others.