How to Enjoy Your Summer as a Freelancer
Plan your way to a work-free summer
Flex your flexibility
It’s in the name, freelancing. You are given the freedom to do what you want when you want, across your work and personal life. So why don’t we maximise on that more?
Well, because it’s so easy to get caught up in working and making commitments. You might find yourself always thinking ahead to that next contract. But let’s not forget that flexibility is an essential part to enjoying freelancing. So why not use your advantage to make the most of the upcoming summer festivities
Managing your time
While you may be mindful of wanting to take time off, there is always a typical moment obstructing them. Maybe it is a client making a last-minute request or a potential new client coming out of the works who de-rails these incipient plans. That’s why making a firm plan for the summer break and getting it in the diary is a huge step towards enjoying the summer.
A useful way to start is to decide which dates you wish to take off. Maybe it coincides with an event, and if so, why not buy the tickets in advance and fully commit to that day off. Also, speaking to those involved in your plans and syncing up your days means the commitments in your personal life can now finally take priority. This gives you something to look forward to and makes that time off extra special.
Whether your plan is to go out to events or travel, or to stay in your back garden and take in the sun, ensuring you are committed to the time off is essential.
Managing your workload
As we know well, freelancing affords you a lot of flexibility; however, it would be wrong to assume that there is still pressure to meet client expectations.
A helpful solution is to run your summer plans past your clients and let them know you will be unavailable during those dates. This lets your clients know you are a forward thinker, organised, and provides them with consideration in your personal planning too.
It allows you to manage your workload, and therefore get all tasks done for your client in advance of your break. It also gives your client the opportunity to pre-empt their expectations during those dates. Instead of an urgent email landing into an unmanned inbox while you are basking in the sun, your client can think ahead and ask for the work before your holiday. This encourages mutual consideration of each other’s time, and helps you prepare ahead for a restful summer.
Managing your finances
This is not the only benefit either. As freelancers generally earn while they work, the temptation to work continuously is always there. However, planning in advance allows you to increase your workload to cover the days you won’t be earning. It also means these overlooked, and often last minute assignments can still come your way for you to profit from them. Earning more on the run up to a holiday, be it short or long, the extra income will always be appreciated.
A further benefit to planning your holiday well in advance, means you can start saving money at the earliest opportunity. The more you save each month, the more you have to keep you going during the holiday. A helpful idea is to create a planned budget. Not just for essential payments such as bills, but also for what your holiday activities will cost. For example, account for flights, cinema tickets or meals out. Budgeting in this way increases the chances of your holiday being fun-filled and stress free.
Managing your health
Focusing only on the benefits that working brings often means we overlook the benefits of not working. Working continuously without a break often leads to burnout, fatigue and can exacerbate minor illnesses. As a result, you may find yourself taking more unexpected days off, be these sick days, wellbeing days and holidays. Planning your holidays allows you to budget in advance for them, finish off your work-load and maintain the time frame agreed with the client. It also means you go back to work healthy and relaxed, and not least, having enjoyed your time off.
Planning your break to be over the summer also enables you to maximise on the weather. Exposing you to beautiful and relaxing settings and enhances absorption of vitamin D. That doesn’t sound half bad – eh?
Before you go
Before you go: if this article inspired you and you are looking for other Freelancing tips, check out our article on Earth Day 2022 and Remote Working. For an enhanced experience on our zero-commission platform, try Revolancer Plus. Did you catch the news about the exciting new client signed up to the platform? Read all about it in Revolancer collaborate with Hibernian Football Club.
Freelance marketplace: Revolancer