Article Ready, set, go: our action plan for care-free holidays

Summer is upon us here in the northern hemisphere, and that means it’s high time we all took a holiday.

Of course, you can and should take a holiday at absolutely any time of year you like, but summer is a popular choice for all kinds of reasons.

Maybe because you’ve got kids on their summer holidays. Maybe because you’ve found you tend to receive very little work during July or August anyway. Or maybe because you live somewhere that really hots up, your brain melting in the high temperatures.

The beauty of being freelance is that it doesn’t matter if you take holiday during the summer or not, as you’re in charge here. But what does matter is rest, so if you haven’t taken any significant time off yet this year then you are WELL overdue a break.

But we get it, taking a holiday when you’re freelance can feel like anything but a relaxing experience. Spending your whole holiday worrying about work and the income you might be missing out on isn’t exactly a recipe for unwinding, after all.

It needn’t be that way, though. With the right mindset and the right prep, you can make sure that your holiday is an actual break, allowing you to disconnect and return to your desk feeling refreshed.

Here’s our action plan for taking a well-deserved holiday without a care in the world. Everyone’s situation is different, so some of this might not resonate with you, but we hope you can find some wisdom in here that will help you take a real break in the very near future.

Planning ahead

Plan your time off in advance

Do you know how a lot of people in employment have to book their time off months in advance? Of course, being freelance gives you the luxury of being far more flexible.

But in our experience, this often means that freelancers end up taking less time off than their employed counterparts (who get holiday pay).

When you’re not obliged to plan your time off in advance, the danger is that the months will slip by and you’ll end up working solidly.

So make sure you do roughly plan out when you’ll take your holiday over the course of the coming year, even if you don’t set things in stone.

Keep track of your holiday days

If you struggle with this, then it’s a good idea to start keeping a running total of all the days off you take.

Allocate yourself a certain number of days off a year, and then factor those days in when you’re doing your rate calculations, figuring out what you need to charge by word or hour to earn what you need to.

This is a great way of squashing those unjustified feelings of guilt that so many freelancers experience when taking time away, as you’ll soon realise that you don’t take “too much” time off at all. In fact, the opposite is probably true!

Plan holidays for the quiet times

Another tip for planning your time off in advance is to take what are likely to be your quieter and busier periods into account.

If you use LSP.expert or track your time and projects using a different system, then you’ll have solid data that will show you when those quieter times of year tend to fall. There’s usually some kind of pattern, although, of course, freelancing always has surprises up its sleeve.

This won’t always be possible and you don’t have to let those expected quieter months dictate your plans (you can focus on ways to soften the impact the feast and famine cycle has on your business instead!).

But in an ideal world, you’d be taking your extended breaks at a time that’s likely to be quiet, that falls right after a few months that tend to be busier, so you’re in a good financial position.

Bear in mind, though, that months like August and December are often quieter because everyone’s on holiday, and that will also mean going away will probably cost you more - so it’s all swings and roundabouts!

Get into the right mindset

If you find yourself trying to justify the fact you’re taking a holiday or apologising for it in any way, then it’s time to stop.

Check yourself when you’re speaking to your friends, family, colleagues and even clients, and make sure you’re not falling into that trap. Use positive language when you talk about your breaks and holidays.

Inform your clients that you’ll be away (politely and respectfully, of course), and don’t ask for their permission.

Regularly remind yourself that breaks aren’t a luxury, they’re a necessity. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and if you’re doing creative work you need to be energised and motivated, rather than hovering on the edge of burnout.

Time off is essential if you want to deliver the best results, so make sure you treat it that way.

The run-up

Let your regular clients know

So, you’re taking a break! That’s amazing.

If you’re just taking a few days tacked onto a weekend, you don’t need to worry as much about letting your clients know. Tell them, of course, but they won’t need as much notice.

It’s when you’re taking a week or more than you need to make sure your clients get the memo well in advance. When your holiday is perhaps a month or so away, it’s time to email them and give them a heads-up so they can plan accordingly.

If you work with bigger agencies they might have a calendar system in place, or a specific way for you to let them know about your holiday. You can use the ‘notes’ section for each client on LSP.expert to keep track of this, so you don’t get confused between agencies and maintain your professional, organised image.

Bring forward any regular work

Do any regular translations for certain clients? Perhaps they send you their newsletter or social media posts on a monthly or weekly basis.

In these cases, forward planning makes all the difference, taking the stress out of the situation for both you and them, and meaning you’re not leaving them in the lurch or missing out on any income. If you give them plenty of notice, you’ll be able to come up with a solution that works for you both!

Add it to your email signature

This is a great way of reminding your clients you’ve got time off coming up, as it’s easy for them to forget. Pop it in your email signature a couple of weeks before you go!

Decide on your email policy

Will you have no access to your emails during your break? Or will you be checking in now and again?

We recommend you take totally email-free breaks at least a couple of times a year, as you can’t truly check out of work worries if you’re monitoring them.

But if you do decide to check in now and again, decide what that will look like, both to give you some structure and so your clients know if they can expect a response.

Consider a social media detox

If you use social media professionally, why not take some time out from that too? Your followers will still be there when you get back, and you’ll have far more enthusiasm for posting and engaging if you’ve had some time away.

Staying away from socials will help you be in the moment and worry less about the work you might be missing out on.

Post to let people know

If you’re regularly active on a certain platform, post to let people know you’ll be away and won’t be responding to DMs, so potential clients getting in touch with you don’t think you’re ignoring them.

This is also a lovely way of showing other freelancers who might need a reminder that it’s not just okay to take a break, it’s vital to take one.

Keep your OOO on-brand

Don’t forget to activate an out-of-office message, letting them know when they can expect a response from you, and make sure it fits with all your other messaging.

Use the same tone of voice, and if it fits with your brand then don’t be afraid to let people know that you’re off on an adventure, or just taking time to recharge your creative batteries. If you’ll be doing something relevant to one of your specialisms or practising one of your target languages, let them know!

On holiday

Remove temptation

Decided on a total email and social media break? Delete all the apps from your phone so you’re not tempted to just take a quick look.

If you can, leave your laptop at home. Your bag will feel so much lighter, both physically and metaphorically!

Have fun!

Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, make the absolute most of it.

We know it can be tough to not worry about money when you’re not earning (especially if you’re travelling with people on paid leave from their jobs, who often really don’t get it).

But you’ve taken the time off and have already probably spent a significant chunk of money, so you might as well enjoy every second of it.

Revel in your email-free state and make sure you’re totally present, soaking up every second and absorbing everything your destination has to offer.

After you’re back

Don’t jump straight in

Post-holiday blues? Be kind to yourself and don’t schedule any tough client work for your first day back in the office.

Allow yourself at least a day or two to tackle your emails, get your brain back into gear and rest a little. Then launch in and put all that creative energy to excellent use.

---

You know what’s almost as good as a holiday?

Freeing up all the time you used to spend on admin with the help of LSP.expert. Give our 30-day free trial a go to get a taste of the difference it could make to your day-to-day.