There are many advantages to being self-employed and working from home. But, there are also disadvantages. One is that it’s hard to keep work and home life separate. Another is that without holiday pay, or the guarantee of work, it becomes hard to take time off.
At this time of year, most of us are starting to think about the festive holidays. You might have already started shopping or making plans with your family. But, many people that work from home are planning a Christmas break around work. Worried that they can’t afford to lose even a few day’s pay, or that they’ll lose clients or future work if they are away from their desks for too long.
The good news is, you’ve still got plenty of time to get organized, and that if you want a fun, festive break with your family, nothing should stop you.
Start Planning Now
Think about what you want from the festive break. If you have school-aged children, you might want to take some time off while they are off school. You might just want to stop work for the important days like Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Alternatively, you might choose to reduce your workload so that you can manage with a few hours each day, never taking an extended break, but never working for more than a few hours at a time. It’s really up to you and depends on what plans you’ve got, but start thinking about it now so that you can make the appropriate plans.
Get Outside Help
Self-employed people often make the mistake of thinking that they have to do it all alone. You don’t. Outsourcing work, using a mailbox forward with good support, and employing other freelancers to help, can make it much easier to take time off, without losing money or business.
Pick a Date
If you want to take a break, decide when it’s going to start. Pick your date now, and you can plan around it, with a last date for orders if you sell products or some dates for your out of office emails.
Let Clients Know
Chances are, many of your clients will also take a festive break. Speak to them early, so that you all have an opportunity to get work done, and maybe earn extra money before any holidays kick in.
Make Some Plans
Having plans for the holidays can help you to get excited about the season, and reduce any worries that you may have about taking time away from your business. Make the most of time off, with plans to attend events and see friends.
Budget for It
Loss of income is often our primary concern when it comes to taking time away from our business. So, budget for it now. Create a budget for festive expenses, remembering that you’ll need to cover bills and cover personal costs while dealing with a loss of income. Start saving and finding extra work now, and it won’t hit you as hard.
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