The holiday season is fast approaching. Unlike those with a 9-to-5 jobs, freelancers work around the clock. That’s the nature of your job as a freelancer. But just like everybody else, we deserve a break to enjoy the festivities.
As a freelancer, you’re your own boss and you have no one to ask for a day off. So you have to find a way to create such time for yourself.
That can seem like a very daunting task as creating that block of time to enjoy the holidays seems almost impossible. But the good news is that there is a way you can have the free time you need to enjoy the festivities with everyone else. Here exactly how you can manage time off as a freelancer this holiday season.
Plan ahead
If you want to have the holidays to yourself, then planning ahead is key. To get more time off for yourself means you need to put in extra hours. But don’t worry, it will be worth it. I promise.
Get all your projects and tasks you have of the month in perspective. This will help you prioritize the tasks and projects that you need to give urgent attention to first.
That’s just one aspect to planning ahead.
The next thing you need to do is to draw up a budget of how much you need to make for you to comfortably enjoy your time off without feeling the pinch in your finances. This will help you know how many projects you need to take up to make up for that period. Since you’re the boss, no one is going to give you a bonus unless you work it out yourself.
Be disciplined
It will take a lot of discipline to make sure that you follow through with the deadlines you set for yourself. Since you’ll be working harder and for longer hours you need to remain focused and resolute to carry out your projects as at when due. Use incentives to keep you motivated to keep going. What better incentive than to know that you’ll get to spend time with your loved ones during the holidays and relax to your fill!
Learn to say “NO”
Sometimes you may be tempted to take up a project or two even though you’re full to the brim with projects. At that point you need to allow yourself to be practical and say “No” to the offers that come in.
You may want to get yourself some time off but that doesn’t mean that you should work yourself into burnout.
Outsource what you can
If you tried but couldn’t get yourself to say “No” to the project that comes in, the next practical step to take is to outsource those projects to freelancers who will be available during the time when you’re going on holiday.
The best part of being a freelancer is that you have access to a friendly family of freelancers. The freelancer community is full of talented freelancers who do awesome work.
Once you’ve outsourced the job, you can have the freelancer send the project back to you to for vetting before you send it back to your client. That way you will still earn from the project and help create jobs for other upcoming freelancers.
How do you manage time off as a freelancer?
Great tips. Being a freelancer and running your own business is a full time thing for sure.
Thanks Lali.
This is so helpful! Everyone needs a day off and a time for oneself. I am so glad I came across your blog.
Glad to hear you found the post helpful Maggie 😊
It sounds like you really know how to manage your time. It’s so tough as a freelancer, but you give some great tips here that I really need to implement. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for stopping by 😊
These are super tips. Being a freelancer myself, I can’t have enough reminders of how important it is to schedule time off (and not just a day, but actually a vacation) and how to accomplish it. This week, I’m cramming in so much work so that I can take a few days off for Christmas… and I’m already exhausted. Your post is very encouraging: it’s worth it!
Glad you like the tips Luci. Enjoy your time off.
Too true, too true! People talk about how lucky freelancers are to work at home but it’s really more like you live at work!
Yes it us living at work really. Thanks for reading.
Working as a freelancer I’m still struggling to plan some “off time” but I agree that discipline is key!
Yes it is Chloe.
This is what I struggle with, it really does come down to discipline, I am trying to get everything in place to be able to switch off and take time out.
Yes it comes down to discipline and planning.
Oh so true, even freelancers need time to rest. We should learn to say no to our friends sometimes and just have alone time.
I agree. Thanks for reading.
I hope that you have a stress-free holiday season and time to take off! I am not a freelancer but I joggling running my blog while working a full-time job.
I hope so too. Hope you have a great holiday too!
These are great tips to manage time off as a freelancer. Glad that you shared them. Super helpful.
Thanks for reading 😊
Great points here! It’s hard to put things aside or stop working when you work for yourself!
Yes it can be. Thanks for reading.
That is so hard to do! You really broke it down well. I feel like I can always work on things in my spare time, but then I’m working 100% of the time. Ug!
Yes it can be really hard.
Time off? What is that? Hahaha I agree with your points though
Lol 😂