Comments on: How To Get The Vacation Time That You Sorely Need And Desperately Want http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/ The Blog For Freelancers And Web-Workers Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:42:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Are You Guilty? | LearnersTutorials http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/comment-page-1/#comment-38842 Are You Guilty? | LearnersTutorials Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:29:22 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/#comment-38842 [...] is possible to organize a vacation without going [...] [...] is possible to organize a vacation without going [...]

]]> By: Lost http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/comment-page-1/#comment-28060 Lost Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:25:47 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/#comment-28060 Wow! You touched a raw nerve here! Me and my hubby run our company. One's the tech head and the other's the manager. It's been ages since we've gone out for a vacation, to be precise 2 years! I wish we'd read your post earlier. Will plan a vacation in the next 2 months :) Thanks... Wow! You touched a raw nerve here! Me and my hubby run our company. One’s the tech head and the other’s the manager.

It’s been ages since we’ve gone out for a vacation, to be precise 2 years! I wish we’d read your post earlier. Will plan a vacation in the next 2 months :)

Thanks…

]]> By: Paul Burani, Clicksharp Marketing http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/comment-page-1/#comment-10808 Paul Burani, Clicksharp Marketing Sun, 04 May 2008 17:10:41 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/#comment-10808 Very well done. Re: being accessible by phone, I've found that a SkypeIn number is very helpful for maintaining the perception of being "within reach." I don't recommend failing to tell clients that you're traveling... but giving them a local # to call with a 24-48 hour return call guarantee goes a long way in putting them at ease. Very well done. Re: being accessible by phone, I’ve found that a SkypeIn number is very helpful for maintaining the perception of being “within reach.” I don’t recommend failing to tell clients that you’re traveling… but giving them a local # to call with a 24-48 hour return call guarantee goes a long way in putting them at ease.

]]> By: Stefanie http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/comment-page-1/#comment-10576 Stefanie Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:33:14 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/#comment-10576 I maintain a day job and a healthy freelancing/web publishing career on the side, but I never skip over the need for vacations and weekends away. I was lucky enough to find a partner who needs a lot more sleep than I do, so we just get a suite whenever we go and I can put in an hour or two of work each day before I get to the fun stuff. I suppose I *could* schedule time with no work at all, but I'd rather take more vacations with a little bit of work than fewer vacations with no work. I maintain a day job and a healthy freelancing/web publishing career on the side, but I never skip over the need for vacations and weekends away. I was lucky enough to find a partner who needs a lot more sleep than I do, so we just get a suite whenever we go and I can put in an hour or two of work each day before I get to the fun stuff.

I suppose I *could* schedule time with no work at all, but I’d rather take more vacations with a little bit of work than fewer vacations with no work.

]]> By: Laura Spencer http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/comment-page-1/#comment-10422 Laura Spencer Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:56:48 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/#comment-10422 Thanks everyone! There are a lot of good ideas in the comments. Work cycles are definitely a factor that can help you determine when you should take a vacation. As far as subcontracting goes, I think it's great if your client allows it. (I would recommend always letting the client know that you are using a subcontractor.) Thanks everyone!

There are a lot of good ideas in the comments. Work cycles are definitely a factor that can help you determine when you should take a vacation. As far as subcontracting goes, I think it’s great if your client allows it. (I would recommend always letting the client know that you are using a subcontractor.)

]]> By: Jacob Share http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/comment-page-1/#comment-10410 Jacob Share Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:46:54 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/#comment-10410 In a word: subcontract / outsource In a word: subcontract / outsource

]]> By: Allena T http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/comment-page-1/#comment-10371 Allena T Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:47:15 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/#comment-10371 The hardest part I've found is the scheduling. I stop taking new clients or new projects from old clients, yet...if I don't schedule it right, I have three or four unbooked/blank days in the wrong spot! Ugh. The hardest part I’ve found is the scheduling. I stop taking new clients or new projects from old clients, yet…if I don’t schedule it right, I have three or four unbooked/blank days in the wrong spot! Ugh.

]]> By: Melek http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/comment-page-1/#comment-10364 Melek Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:13:46 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/#comment-10364 Something else to consider when planning is when do you traditionally have slow periods of work? for me, in looking back at my quickbooks billings, i can easily see that July/Aug are my slowest months with a HUGE dip in work. I think is is bc kids are out of school, so parents (my clients) are taking vacation. So, that's when i plan my vacation. Then i'm not slammed when i get back bc i have less work coming in. Also, don't forget to turn on your auto responder so clients you may not have notified (i have clients pop out of the woodwork years after i do something for them) will know when to expect you back in the office. I'll sometimes even tell my clients that i'll be back in the office on Wed when i'm actually coming back on Tuesday. That way, i have a little time to catch up before the deluge starts :) Something else to consider when planning is when do you traditionally have slow periods of work? for me, in looking back at my quickbooks billings, i can easily see that July/Aug are my slowest months with a HUGE dip in work. I think is is bc kids are out of school, so parents (my clients) are taking vacation. So, that’s when i plan my vacation. Then i’m not slammed when i get back bc i have less work coming in.

Also, don’t forget to turn on your auto responder so clients you may not have notified (i have clients pop out of the woodwork years after i do something for them) will know when to expect you back in the office.

I’ll sometimes even tell my clients that i’ll be back in the office on Wed when i’m actually coming back on Tuesday. That way, i have a little time to catch up before the deluge starts :)

]]> By: Alina Popescu http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/comment-page-1/#comment-10355 Alina Popescu Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:44:40 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/#comment-10355 This is a great guide and a realistic view into the freelancer life style at the same time. I'm not really a freelancer, although I've worked as a freelancer along with my day job. But if I ever choose to switch sides, I'll surely read this article a few times a year :) This is a great guide and a realistic view into the freelancer life style at the same time. I’m not really a freelancer, although I’ve worked as a freelancer along with my day job. But if I ever choose to switch sides, I’ll surely read this article a few times a year :)

]]> By: Susan http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/comment-page-1/#comment-10353 Susan Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:16:45 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/how-to-get-the-vacation-time-that-you-sorely-need-and-desperately-want/#comment-10353 I've experienced all of these concerns, but just because you're on vacation doesn't mean you have to be completely out of the loop. When I went to Hawaii for ten days, I put up a vacation message and hopped on a plane. Sure enough, an editor at one of my dream publications emailed me with an assignment just 12 hours after my departure!! Fortunately, I checked my email and wrote back to her immediately saying I'd love to do the story (and my boyfriend was happy to hang out in the hotel for a little bit while I did the legwork). You won't necessarily miss out on projects if you check email on a semi-regular basis (I also used the plane ride to brainstorm for story ideas). I do think that leaving a freelance friend's information as a contact is a good idea, but most editors (not necessarily clients) probably have other people they could email, too. I’ve experienced all of these concerns, but just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean you have to be completely out of the loop. When I went to Hawaii for ten days, I put up a vacation message and hopped on a plane. Sure enough, an editor at one of my dream publications emailed me with an assignment just 12 hours after my departure!! Fortunately, I checked my email and wrote back to her immediately saying I’d love to do the story (and my boyfriend was happy to hang out in the hotel for a little bit while I did the legwork).

You won’t necessarily miss out on projects if you check email on a semi-regular basis (I also used the plane ride to brainstorm for story ideas). I do think that leaving a freelance friend’s information as a contact is a good idea, but most editors (not necessarily clients) probably have other people they could email, too.

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