how to take time off when you go freelance

Yesterday was Labor Day. For some of you, that meant time off from the office. For others like me, we weren’t so lucky.

I shouldn’t say that. As a remote freelancer, I design my schedule and I could have either done the work earlier or pushed it off until later.

Utimately, I chose to work a half day on a federal holiday instead of taking time off. But only working half a day when you enjoy the work you’re doing (and you still get to enjoy the day when you’re done) ain’t half bad.

I wrote a blog for one of my clients, so I got paid (always a plus). I wrote it outside so I could enjoy the beautiful day while I put in some kind of effort.

Then, after a few hours, I was able to go to a fun park with my boyfriend and pup to enjoy the day.

Now, I may be sticking my foot in my mouth by using this example of how, as a freelancer, I didn’t get to take time off when I should have been able to...

BUT.

That’s not why I went freelance.

I did it to design my schedule in the way that works best for ME. I didn’t need to take the entire day off since I’d had a pretty chill weekend already.

That wasn’t my objective.

I simply wanted some time in the day to go walk around and get some exercise in the sunlight with my lil fam.

And I was able to do that.

“But... how do you design your schedule to be able to take time off when you’re freelancing? Like practically?”

Here’s how, practically.

1. Know how fast (or slow) you work

When you’re able to get a good estimate of how long your work will take, you can more easily see how it will fit into your week.

For instance, I know writing a blog for a client will take me around 1-3 hours depending on the length and the topic.

Writing a newsletter will take me about 3 hours, again, depending on the topic and length.

Once you get a good feel for the amount of time a certain task will take, you can easily look at your week ahead and situate it according to your priorities.

For me, I like to do things a little bit early to give myself wiggle room to take the day off (or at least a half day) if I need it.

I don’t leave anything to the last minute because that decreases the sense of freedom and control I have over my time.

Personal preference.

Now, you can’t look at your week ahead without a planner. I schedule tasks weekly, and color code by TYPE (I talk more about this below).

And, one thing’s for sure... there is always a check box for every task so I can cross each one off once they’re done.

So. Satisfying.

2. Get organized

No offense, but if you don’t have a planner, or a notebook, use your Gmail or phone calendar, I’m not sure how you’ve made it this far.

I am NOTHING without my planner.

I got it from Staples. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s a weekly planner that I use every single day.

I wouldn’t exist without a planner simply because my memory is shot. I fill my brain with so much information, I need to write things down to retain it all.

If you’re like me, a weekly planner helps to organize your life, your to-do’s, and your client work.

I recommend color coding it based on type, clients, or projects. I organize it by TYPE, so my planner looks a little like this:

• PINK for personal things (gym, cooking dinner, calls related to personal growth, etc).

• BLUE for freelance work (client calls, due dates, etc).

• YELLOW for a specific client I’ve been working with from the start of my freelance career. I’m going part-time with them soon, so it makes sense that they get an entire color dedicated to them.

• GREEN for things I do with my boyfriend!

• ORANGE for pet-related things (walks, meds, going to do things with her like dog parks and breweries).

It’s honestly really cool to look back at planners of years past to see how priorities have shifted and how much I’ve grown.

3. Actually take time off

This seems obvious, yes. But, from what I’ve noticed, it’s more challenging than you think.

Actually giving yourself permission to take time off can be tough, especially when you’re in the first few months of going freelance.

Even if it’s just for a few hours to give yourself a break.

Especially if it’s an entire day to celebrate a federal holiday like the rest of the country.

The trick here is all mindset. So practical, yes, just in a different way.

When you give your mind and body a break, you’re able to come back refreshed and recharged.

You know this.

Studies have shown this to be true.

Everyone talks about it.

And the consequence of not taking time off occasionally?

Burnout.

I like to put my phone on airplane mode and Do Not Disturb. I flip it upside down and put it out of sight.

Physically distancing myself from my phone is helpful when I’ve decided I am done working for the day.

But, sometimes I want to play a game on my phone, watch a YouTube video, or take a photo! Now what?

Do Not Disturb is a godsend in itself.

You don’t get notifications. You don’t hear sounds coming from your phone. It’s like you’re in the middle of the forest and there’s simply no reception.

Except you CHOSE for it to be like that. Because you deserve some peace and quiet.

So, while taking time off when you’re first going freelance can seem like a scary and impossible feat, it’s more important to your success than you think.

Remember to get clear on how long it takes you to do your work, stay organized... and then let it all hang loose.

You deserve it, dammit.