With the shorter days and colder weather nearing us, many of us feel the need for a holiday, but work obligations often hold us back.
To help alleviate this, here are our top three tips for planning a break as a freelancer, based on research from the self-employed trade association, IPSE.
1. Manage your clients’ expectations
Managing client expectations is a top priority for freelancers when planning a holiday. More than two-thirds (70%) advise their clients they will be taking time off before they do.
This is hardly surprising as working with clients is central to finding and maintaining work. Positive client relationships are also an important source of positive human interaction for many freelancers, given the isolation that can come with working independently.
2. Budget for your time away
Going on a holiday or break often places double the financial pressure on freelancers. On top of the financial costs that can come with taking a break, they also lose money for the time spent away from their work as they do not receive holiday pay.
Even so, only two in five freelancers financially prepare for taking time off. You should not only set money aside for holidays, but you need to budget for lost days of work.
3. Organise your workload
Many freelancers see workload planning as a key part of preparing for time off. For some, this includes working more hours to prepare for their holiday, while for others it simply means avoiding taking on new contracts.
Taking a holiday is not always easy, but planning ahead can reduce pre-holiday stress and allow for full relaxation while away.
By Inna Yordanova
