Why it’s important to take a day off as a Freelancer
As a freelance designer weekends are just another work day to me. I have clients who are only free on the weekends, and visa versa. In that situation, it’s difficult to schedule yourself a day off. Although working as a freelance designer has it’s benefits of working from home, working in your own enviroment, you can become too comfortable working a specific number of hours a day, every day, on the schedule that you feel fits best. Which can end up becoming a 7 day work week, and sort of defeats the purpose of being a freelancer in the first place.
Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t work at the best pace possible, I’m saying that sometimes you can become bogged down, burned out, and need a full day away from work.
Why you ask? It’s simple, the sleep deprived person may start to experience apathy, slowed speech and flattened emotional responses, impaired memory and an inability to be novel or multitask. Now, if you’re a freelancer, you know exactly what it’s like not getting enough rest throughout the week. This isn’t good, as your overall productivity will fall, and who will suffer? You and your clients.
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Alright, so I will take a day off, but I don’t want it to be a waste. That’s fine, you don’t have to lay around all day feeling useless, but you shouldn’t attempt to do anything relevant to your line of freelance work. That means no e-books, RSS feeds, tutorials, or work whatsoever. Of course it is perfectly alright to contact a client, lead, or anything that is of necessity. You can’t run your business into the ground.
I suggest taking time out for you. Is it time for a haircut? Maybe it’s time to clean up the flowerbeds for spring? How about working on that empty room in your house that is your office, or possibly taking someone not work affiliated to lunch or dinner?
Like I said previously, nothing work related. That doesn’t mean you can’t get all of your other ducks in a row for the future. Whatever you can do to keep yourself relaxed, while still keeping your pride above average for the day.
Edit – Thanks for all of your love Comcast Photographer in the Menlo area, California!
