Ah, that special time of year has come around again. The festive season is a time of celebration and unwinding — but when you run your own freelance business, balancing the merriment with work can feel tricky.
Working to a freelance schedule gives you flexibility for catching up with family and friends but without office shut-down days, there can also be pressure to keep making, creating, and producing throughout the holidays. Depending on your industry, you might also find your services or products are highest in demand just before Christmas.
So, how can you ensure you have a relaxing festive break without halting all your operations?
Remember, time off is essential
No matter what industry you work in, having a break is vital! Not only does taking time off at Christmas give you the chance to see your loved ones, but it also lets you unwind and reset. A proper break will help you start the New Year feeling refreshed and productive.
Top tips for balancing freelance work at Christmas
With that said, how can you set your schedule to give yourself that all-important time off?
Plan ahead
The best place to start is to get prepared as early as possible. Do you find you get a lot of business in the run-up to Christmas? If this is the case, it can be helpful to start projects earlier than usual to get them finished in time.
On the other hand, you may find your work slows down in December, so it’s wise to plan financially for that lean period.
Having this foresight allows you to balance your workload, making sure you're not swamped with tasks when you should be unwinding.
Manage client expectations
It’s also important to communicate clearly with your clients and customers. Let them know ahead of time when you’ll be closing shop for Christmas.
If December is a busy month for you — for instance, if you craft or sell gifts and spend a lot of time at Christmas markets — it can be helpful to hire a virtual assistant to help you with your communication this time of year. A virtual assistant (VA) can create a newsletter or social media posts to update customers on your working hours and lead times. They can also handle enquiries so you can focus on other aspects of your business.
Harness technology
Another great way to prepare for a Christmas break is to harness the power of scheduling and automation tools. Social media scheduling software can be the ideal way to keep your digital marketing ticking over while you enjoy a well-earned break.
You can line up content to be published throughout the holiday season.
Embrace the flexibility of freelancing
One of the perks of freelancing is flexibility. After all, you’re not tied to a company’s office hours. If the festive season is slower for your business, embrace it! Use this time for professional development, planning for the upcoming year, or simply taking a well-deserved break.
Alternatively, if it’s a busy period, remember that you still have the freedom to work at times that suit your festive schedule — early mornings or late nights might free up precious daytime hours for festivities.
Get prepared and enjoy the merriment
However you spend the holidays, it’s essential that you give yourself a bit of time for relaxation. For many freelancers, small business owners, and entrepreneurs, this means putting a bit of extra thought into your preparation — but it’ll be worth it to spend Christmas your way.
If you need a hand getting content lined up, navigating customer orders, or balancing your time this winter, Erin at Bizzybee is here to help. As an experienced virtual assistant, Erin can support you in a range of admin and management tasks, helping you have a merry and stress-free Christmas.
Get in touch to have a chat today.