This time of year it seems like everyone is either on vacation or getting ready for a vacation. Even freelancers need time off, though it can be tricky for us to swing. That’s why I’d like to discuss vacations for this open thread.
Are you taking any time off this summer? And if so, will you be checking email or doing work while you’re gone? Do you announce your time off in advance or quietly slip away? And what happens if an important project comes up?
I’ve tried a variety of things: announcing my absence in advance (which sometimes leads to annoying statements like “you freelancers are so lucky you can take time off whenever you want”), bringing my BlackBerry and laptop so I can continue working as if I were at my home base, or checking email a few times a day and (trying to) enjoy the rest of my time. It’s tough to totally unplug, because inevitably, I get a juicy assignment just before I leave or while I’m gone. But then I don’t get the full mind-clearing benefits of being on vacation.
What about you?
I'm taking time off soon and I just let all of my editors know that I'll only be checking email every few days and will be doing no work during that time. It's the first time I'm doing this – normally I'd make myself available to a deadline or two while I travel – but this time I'm really trying to take a vacation not a working vacation. Fingers crossed it works!
I've yet to do completely unplug for time away. Although I've mostly spent "vacation" time with family, I do cart my laptop and Blackberry. Luckily, most of my work during these visits is returning a few emails and/or participating in a few calls. I love getting to see my family more often, but I am looking forward to a vacation in 2010 that includes leaving my laptop at home!
I just returned. Despite my best efforts, didn't I get those "Oh no!" emails and requests to squeeze in huge projects in four days? I wanted to scream. Worst was one that involved a posse – my biggest no-no. I had to politely tell the client yes, I'll be happy to work with them. Let me price that out and get a new contract to you. Suddenly, it wasn't so important…
I had no intentions of working during my vacation – well, not on current projects. I developed article ideas. I let my clients know a month out, two weeks out, and four days out that I would be disappearing. Naturally, two last-minute requests came in. Sorry, get in line. One project I sent over to a friend to help out with so I could keep up with it.
I work hard. I deserve uninterrupted time off. I defy anyone to try convincing me otherwise, especially since these same people are covetous of their own time off.
I have a vacation coming up in September and I am really nervous about it. It is out of the states (the Caribbean!) and to take my laptop and get internet access in my room is really expensive. So I am unplugging for a week. I will be warning my clients way in advance that I won't even be available over email. Sometimes you just have to do it no matter what projects you miss out on.
I never really take time off entirely – I always check mail while I'm away. Then again, I do take regular breaks away from home – weekends and such – so it pretty much balances out. Sometimes my wife insists that I leave the laptop behind though, and that gives me the shivers.
Raechel, I hope you can leave behind the guilt, too. For me, the first few vacations I felt guilty leaving my clients in the lurch. Now, I don't think twice because they get ample notice and I have adopted the "their fire is not my emergency" stance. I had to. Too many clients in the past tried walking right over my boundaries.
Look at it this way – they go on vacation and don't communicate with you for a week. It's only fair that you do, too.
Enjoy the Caribbean!
Ah, this is a good point. I really find value in truly unplugging, especially because my job is 100% online involving social media. However, there are times when it's not possible to take off work. I like to plan my vacation in advance, let everyone know (clients, co-workers, etc.) and take care of all business before I depart. Sometimes I leave a vacation message, sometimes I don't. If it's a real vacation (which are REALLY important to take) I leave up a vacation auto-response, turn off my phone and don't bring my computer. We need to unplug every once in a while…and if some people don't understand that, then I feel bad for their quality of life.
I planned to work throughout the summer even though my two girls are out of school. I ended up switching my hours so I work after dinnertime instead of during the day. I juggle work with Tae Kwon Do classes three times a week and fatigue. I have learned a lot this summer, since it was the first one after a school year where both my daughters went to school full-time. I think I will plan to take most of the summer off next year and just work about an hour a day.
Thanks to everyone who weighed in! It's tough to unplug, but I agree that it's necessary every once in a while so you don't burn out.
I took five days off in July, but I brought my laptop with me.
I checked email in the morning and again in the evening, but I didn't tackle any new projects. We were on a trip to visit family, but I still needed to check my messages.
Last year we got away for four days and I left the computer at home — it was wonderful. Next year, I'm hoping to have a full week free to myself which means I'll have to do a lot of planning well in advance of our trip.
I always take my laptop — my last vacation was 2 weeks in Costa Rica! — and I usually "work" for 2-3 hours per day (mostly updating my blog comments; I have 5 websites that need daily attention…or so I think
).
Email goes unanswered, though — I LOVE my "I'm on vacation" auto-reply"! That way, people know not to expect anything.
Working a little bit on my vacation time eases the pressure when I'm back at it full-time. I wouldn't do this if I wasn't self-employed, though.
It's interesting to read all these comments – thanks, Susan!
Laurie