4 Ways To Manage Freelance Writing During The Vacation

Who else takes themselves home as a freelancer over the holidays? How do you manage freelance writing during the vacation?

Because freelancers can work from anywhere, it often means that we have the luxury of spending more vacation time with the family than our traditionally employed colleagues who have to go back to work on Monday mornings.

Of course, we usually have to work on Monday mornings as well. Family members don’t always understand this Just because you’re home on vacation doesn’t mean you’re on vacation.

How do you deal with those expectations and make sure your job gets done while you keep both clients? and Extended family happy?

I’m about to be my fourth year as a freelance vacationer so here is my guide to get it all done while meeting family and friends at the same time.

4 Ways to Manage Freelance Copywriting During the Vacation

1. Start communicating

The easiest way to manage expectations is to communicate them. Tell your family members that you will be excited to see them this Christmas time and that some of your time will be spent on work.

Present this positively: As a freelancer, you have the opportunity to earn money and maintain your customer relationships while you get to know the family over the holidays. Other people in the workforce do not have this luxury.

Once you have established that you will be working during your vacation, it is time to Communicate the boundaries of your work day. I often say, “I have to check in with customers in the morning, answer e-mails and hand in a few items. I’ll be available for vacation and family matters after lunch. ”You could also say something like,“ I have to spend most of Thursday doing freelance work, but I’m going to visit Grandma with you on Thursday night, and I will also be available all day Friday. “

Do this Limits known early. Let your family know as soon as possible when you want to focus on work and what time slots you have reserved for them.

By communicating at an early stage, everyone can prepare for temporary changes to the timetable.

2. Stack your workload

If your typical freelance workday involves a lot of fiddling and social chatting in between typing, it’s time to crouch down and concentrate.

Try to divide your workload into small, different time blocks: for example, on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

You need to avoid as much delay as possible in order to get your work done in a predefined block of time. For example, if you want to take 20-minute breaks between writing sprints, you may need to reduce that to five minutes. You don’t want a disappointed family member to say, “I thought it was you” work! ” if they catch you watching YouTube.

If you can’t get all of your chores done in the blocks of time you set yourself, consider adding a few hours to work after everyone else has gone to bed or before they wake up. I did a lot of work on family outings by staying up late or setting my alarm a little early.

Pay attention to your family’s schedule to Find the optimal working time.

Is your family the kind of person who likes to spend an hour or two in front of the TV after lunch? This could be your ideal working time. Do you have a parent who enjoys spending the hour before dinner preparing an elaborate meal? Grab your laptop and answer emails from the kitchen island. It’s like working together!

3. Be there when you are not working

We all know that once your freelance work is done, you are not going to turn off your phone. You could slip it in your pocket, however – or at least turn off email notifications.

When you tell your family that you are available for certain activities, to be present. I’ll be the first to admit it’s hard I was definitely the person who sent emails during a family hike because something occurred to one of my clients. But do your best to work when you are supposed to work and leave work when you are not.

Think of it as the other side of “I thought it was you” work! ” Argument. Try to avoid the distractions of the internet when doing your job – then avoid the distractions of the internet when you are with your family!

4. You don’t have to do everything

Family and customers often come up with something similar Press: You must everything, or you are not part of the team.

It’s okay to say no for both your family members and your customers. It’s okay to tell your family that you can’t play Monopoly after dinner because you have a freelance assignment or that you have something else to do while choosing the Christmas tree – but you’ll be ready to help them decorate it !

It’s also okay to let a customer know that you can’t take on a particular assignment because you are going to visit your family. Or ask for a deadline that falls after the holidays. You don’t have to be available all the time. A lot of freelancers forget that, including me.

Setting boundaries for yourself, your family, and your customers – and then taking the time to communicate those boundaries – is the key to having a great vacation while getting your freelance done at the same time.

Remember you are an adult with a Real job, and you have the right and responsibility to do this job effectively during the holiday season.

Then enjoy that extra piece of cake because you deserve it.

How do you manage your freelance writing during the vacation? Do you have any tips for setting expectations for customers and families?