Do you take time off? Or do you work through the holiday season? It can be hard for us freelancers to truly switch off and take a break. I made a promise to myself last year to take December off (and I did it, see how it went here), but it took some planning to get there. Here are some tips to help you switch off this holiday season too.

As your own boss, there’s always more to do. And as a freelancer, when we don’t work, we don’t get paid (especially if we solely rely on exchanging time for money). But there are some ways to prepare so that you can enjoy a little downtime without the guilt or worry. I've put together my top tips to enable you to take a break too.

6 ways to switch off for the holidays, without the guilt

1. Book holidays into your calendar

Mark holidays in your diary at the start of the year. Don’t book client work into those dates. And commit! Sounds simple, but committing may be the hardest part. It seems counterintuitive to say no to perfectly good opportunities (and cash), but you deserve a break too and your brain will be better for it. If you don’t feel able to straight-up say no to an opportunity, put potential clients on a waitlist and schedule them in after your holiday break (learn how to start a client waitlist here).

2. Let clients know early

Give your clients plenty of notice, set expectations, and plan workload accordingly. For example, with my retainer clients, they knew I was taking December last year off, so we shuffled my time to preload hours before that month so the same workload still gets done in advance. If you’re just taking a week or two off over Christmas, clients are usually cool with that—they’re humans who want to take a break too.

Hot tip: When onboarding clients, include planned holidays in your proposal or welcome kit so it’s clear from the start when you won’t be available.

3. Stash some cash

Cashflow is everything and there are a couple of easy ways to plan for time off. One is to plan your annual income based on 11 months of work so you can still draw a salary even when on vacay. Simply split your income goal for the year over 11 months (not 12). Another way is to simply stash away money leading up to your break so there is enough to pay your normal wage per week, even when you’re not earning. This is a great option if your income is irregular (which hello, oftentimes as freelancers it is), so on the bigger income months, put even more aside.

4. Diversify your income

Creating a course or digital product is a great way to continue making money while taking time off. Of course, you’ll need to invest a chunk of time to create it (it’s by no means passive), but when it comes to getting into holiday-mode, you could simply turn on some ads and sell the product while you lie on a beach or binge on Christmas movies. Magic!! Another way to get a little cash boost pre holidays, is to host a paid workshop online or in-person before your break.

5. Set your tech

Taking time off and truly switching off means you want to remove any temptation to work. Switch the out-of-office on. Pre-schedule any social media posts. Delete work apps (like mail) from your phone. And actually enjoy some phone-free time. You’ll feel more relaxed and less tempted to check in on things if you do these things. Some of our best thinking comes when we’re resting, so carry a notebook and pen to capture on-the-fly ideas and inspiration. You’ll be amazed at what cool things your brain can dream up without the noisy tech.

6. Shift your mindset (rest is really productive after all!)

The brain operates like a muscle — meaning it can get worn out and fatigued if you use it too much. And just like any other muscle, it needs rest in order to recover and be brilliant. I know that when I have space, I do my best creating! So remember that taking a break is actually really good for you. Your clients will reap the benefits because you’ll be a happier, more focused, more creative freelancer because of it. Remind yourself of that when those pangs of guilt creep in.

That’s it

Now all that’s left is to enjoy some downtime! For me, that will include watching cheesy Christmas films, jumping in the ocean as often as possible, bushwalking, napping, catching up with friends, playing with my son, reading books, and dreaming up big plans for next year. Happy holidays!