Are you one of those freelance writers hustling every day to meet your deadlines, write great copy, and keep your clients happy?
That’s a good thing…unless you never take a break.
If you had a day job, you’d probably get at least two weeks of paid vacation a year. You know, you put in a request for your days off, catch a plane to Hawaii, and leave work behind.
But it’s not quite that simple for freelance writers. You’re the boss. You’re running your own business. You have client deadlines, marketing, administrative stuff to take care of.
If you’re always hustling just trying to keep up, you might think you don’t have time for a vacation. But that’s just ridiculous.
One of the perks freelance writers should enjoy is being in control of your own schedule.
If you don’t take time to relax, chill out, and recharge, it’s going to take a toll on your productivity, creative mojo, and happiness.
Need a vacation? Check out these tips from freelance writers to create your own escape plan.
1. 6 Tips For a Great Freelance Writers Vacation
When Carol Tice was writing a gazillion blog posts a month for clients and this blog, it would have been easy to think taking a vacation was a recipe to get further behind and more stressed out. A lot of freelance writers think that way. But it doesn’t have to be like that. Check out her six-step action plan to help you get away.
2. Make a Living Writing From the Road: Tips for Working While Traveling
What if you could combine taking a vacation and a little freelance work? You know, work a few hours a day, kick back and relax on the beach or at a resort the rest of the day. It’s possible for freelance writers to do both. Want to plan a successful working vacation? Here’s what freelancer writer Steve Gillman recommends.
3. Freelance Writers Need Vacations, Too. Here’s How to Take One
When freelance writer Nicole Dieker decided to book a week-long trip on the JoCo Cruise to see some of her favorite performers up close, she wasn’t sure how to turn off a flood of work to enjoy the trip. But it had to happen. She started planning weeks in advance, and even created a get-back-to-work plan after her vacation was over. Check out her tips to plan your own get-away.
4. 7 Productivity Tips From My Vacation That Freelancers Can Use All Year
How about a vacation where you swim, bike, hike, dine, nap, and stand-up paddleboard all day, mixed in with just a few hours of work? When Carol Tice took a working vacation with her family, something happened. She had an epiphany during one dream-like state of mind that only happens when you’re totally relaxed. Here’s what she learned.
5. How to Take a Vacation as a Freelancer
It took freelance writer Geoff Williams a while to learn how to balance writing for a living and making time for vacations. It’s a big shift compared to taking a vacation when you have a traditional day job. “When you’re freelancing full time and actually go somewhere on vacation, however, you get financially clubbed over the head,” says Geoff. And that’s not what you want. Here are four tips to plan ahead for your next vacation.
6. Lessons From A Blogger’s Vacation
Got a smartphone? Carol Tice took a vacation to the San Juan Islands without a computer. And she managed to take care of the basics for her clients and her blog. She even scored a $1,000 assignment with a single click, swipe, and tap. Ready for a vacation? Here’s a few things to keep in mind from a pro blogger and freelance writer.
7. How to Take a Vacation When You’re a Freelancer
If you’ve been putting off taking a vacation thinking you’re too busy, here’s a piece of advice from freelance writer Ashley Gainer. “The greatest asset you have as a freelance writer is you…If you don’t go ‘off duty’ enough, you risk overworking yourself, stifling your creativity, and burning out.” In other words, you need to take a vacation every once in a while. Here’s how it’s done.
Take a vacation to be a better freelance writer
Want to be a better freelance writer, boost creativity, improve productivity, and feel happier? Take a vacation. You’ll have to plan for it, probably even work ahead, but it’s worth it. See you in Hawaii.
How do you plan for vacation? Leave a comment below.
Evan Jensen is the blog editor for Make a Living Writing. When he’s not on a writing deadline, or catching up on emails, he’s training to run another 100-mile ultramarathon
