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Vacation: Planning Your Restorative Recess

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Labor performed by Freelance workers continues to exert a significant influence on the global economy. Freelance professionals play a central role in leading industries on every continent, as demonstrated by the prevalence of Freelance professionals working in software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, human resources, graphic design, marketing, business consulting and in creative industries, from photojournalism to landscape design. Many of you in the U.S. and around the world have built rewarding and lucrative Freelance solopreneur entities. However, it is not an exaggeration to acknowledge that many Freelance workers struggle with one ordinary, but integral, facet of working life—taking time off.

Culture and customs

Unlike W-2 employees, Freelance workers are self-pay all the way—health insurance, holiday, personal, or sick time, retirement fund and vacation time. While there can be exceptions, such as retainer clients or ongoing projects where billable hours are front-end loaded, in many cases a day or a week without work can mean a day or a week without revenue. Revenue income is directly linked to billable hours, deliverables to the client, or project milestones. It can be difficult to step away from billable hours and risk diminishing your income or, heaven forbid, undermining your relationship with a coveted, but high-maintenance, client. Precarious circumstances can instill a fear of professional risk that can override what is, or should be, a normal part of working life.

On top of that, when working in the knowledge economy, whether you participate as 1099-NEC or W-2 labor, clients or employers may have developed an “always on” expectation of the help, a custom that is common in the U.S. and parts of East Asia and is taking hold in some sectors in the Middle East. Rapid response times enabled by a constant digital presence have become the norm in some industries and, increasingly, the practice now defines the preferred client relationship. Email, instant messaging and video conferencing make it easy for clients to expect immediate feedback from their Freelance collaborator, regardless of time zone differences or observances of local holidays. Unfortunately, the 24/7 always-on business culture can erode the boundaries between working hours and personal time, particularly for Freelancers who already operate without the advocacy of a multinational corporation that can enforce fixed work schedules.

Adding to the Freelancer’s stress is the awareness that platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, or Toptal give prospective employers instant access to your potential replacement—a talented individual who may reside in your own country or on another continent, and is ready to service those who were once your clients. Under those anxiety-producing conditions, even established Freelancers may hesitate to go off-line and take a break that exceeds a long weekend, so worried are you that even a long-standing client might explore alternative providers while you are out of the office.

Health and wellness

Still, there are persuasive health and even professional benefits associated with incorporating vacations and holidays into your Freelance work schedule. Health care professionals point out the direct links between chronic overwork, cardiovascular risk, anxiety and depression and diminished productivity associated with the neglect of taking time off to relax and refresh your energy and focus. For Freelancers, who must, on your own, juggle client acquisition, deliver excellent project results and outcomes, perform administrative duties such as invoicing and project proposal submissions and conduct strategic planning for your business entity, the risk of burnout is typically higher than for traditional employees who have team support. Your long-term success depends on it.

Rest is not merely a wellness concept; it is a performance driver. Research from organizations such as Harvard Business Review  has consistently shown that cognitive performance, creativity and problem-solving improve after periods of genuine disconnection. Vacations and holidays contribute to building resilience and even creativity. You owe it to yourself to periodically step away from the grind and allow your mind and body to rest and recover.

Budget and schedule

Because you must finance your extended holiday, build projected restorative recess expenses into your company’s annual budget. Your annual Freelance business revenue (your income, that is) should cover your non-billable time, from the administrative duties you perform to standard and local holiday observances and your personal vacation days. Step One of your time-off enablement strategy is obtaining a reasonable estimate of the amount you can afford to spend and when you can afford to do it.

Begin by forecasting your revenue (what you expect to earn), cash-flow (when accounts receivable should arrive and when accounts payable expenses are due) and calculate a reasonable vacation budget. You might feel comfortable setting up a dedicated savings account and depositing 5% – 15% of monthly revenue received to create for yourself “paid leave” fund. Over the course of a year, you may be able to finance perhaps three to four weeks of non-billable time.

Remember also that retainer agreements are an excellent system for guaranteeing your revenue stream and can preserve your cash-flow during holidays and slow periods. Client retainer agreements can accommodate time off for holidays by front-loading your client work, or even reducing the scope of the work you perform, perhaps by yourself and the client negotiating a specified number of hours you will be available.

As for when you choose to schedule a vacation, you might simply confirm the slowest business periods on your calendar—maybe the last week of December or sometime during July or August? Few key clients are in the office during those blocks of time. You will also do well to reframe your approach to holidays; they can be more than random disruptions in your weekly workflow. Open yourself to recognizing a holiday as the foundation of a week’s vacation, for example.

Tech enabling

The rapid evolution of digital tools has significantly transformed what it means for Freelance workers to take time off. Automation and artificial intelligence powered assistants and agents can now play a pivotal role in maintaining operations continuity while the human overseers step away to take a recess. Your newsletter and other marketing emails, monthly invoices, monthly financial statements and sales funnel CRM follow-up can automatically be set into motion. Project management platforms such as ClickUp, Asana and Trello make it possible to monitor progress and status, assign responsibilities and set timelines to ensure that time-sensitive projects can move forward while you are away. If you must take a (brief!) meeting during your vacation, there are numerous videoconferencing platforms that allow anyone with internet access to check in and participate.

If maintaining data security is a priority for you (and it should be), particularly for Freelancers who will travel and also monitor client work from multiple locations. When grabbing internet access from hotels or co-working spaces, the risk of experiencing a data breach or other attack grows. Security-conscious Freelancers will use a virtual private network (VPN), two-factor authentication and encrypted password managers to protect data—their own and the clients’. When travelling, it is imperative that you protect your data, especially if you’ll log-on from remote work environments.

Communication plan

So can you get the ball rolling on a vacation you’ll take sometime before this year ends? A carefully designed financial plan and a date range that can be expected to cause minimal disruption to your work schedule are all good—but will not please your clients if a sloppy communication process causes them to feel blindsided or abandoned when you, their Freelance collaborator, announce a hiatus. Timely information must be the cornerstone of your communication strategy. Put yourself in the client’s shoes and imagine how much lead time would be useful for you and your team?

For example, if you decide to add a couple of days to a holiday long weekend, giving clients four to six weeks notice should suffice; but giving clients eight to ten weeks advance notice if your out-of-office time will extend to a week or two will be much appreciated. The longer your absence, the more advance notice you should give. Freelancers who value professionalism and good manners typically inform their currently engaged clients of planned absences well in advance (depending on the nature of the work). In your communication to clients, be certain to provide precise out-of-office dates, a summary of deliverables and/or milestones that will be completed before your departure and, if applicable, response expectations you will fulfill during your vacation, along with any contingency arrangements developed to preserve workflow that will be put into place.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image: © AlikaObraz for Freepik. A healing hot springs soak in Loutra Edipsou, Greece.

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Productivity: How to Stay the Course

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Here we are at the top of the year. You may have made New Year’s resolutions and you’re now looking them over to assess, prioritize and incorporate them into your workflow. Although the year is young, it’s not too early to figure out how to maintain the enthusiasm and discipline it takes to achieve your goals. I think it’s imperative to avoid feeling overwhelmed because for me, at least, that’s the gateway to giving up. Maintaining motivation is what I must do and once in a while I need a flotation device, or something, to prevent me from sinking and keep me swimming toward the shore.

To that end, I suggest a strategy that I discovered that will show you how to break down the huge task that is your goal and will perhaps at times feel insurmountable or even unattainable. This strategy, experience tells me, is especially useful for Freelancers. We are a one-person team. Who’s to know whether or not you achieve what you’ve planned, unless you have a business coach or mastermind group to check in with and report your progress?

As a business owner, I’ve learned that maintaining focus and productivity requires discipline and motivation. One powerful tool that has transformed report on your achievement of your A-level, that is, your most important tasks. I was new to full-time work and my sales manager gave me a very useful book to read—How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life by Alan Lakein (1973). In his book, which also influenced Brian Treacy, a very simple and effective planning method helps prioritize high-value activities, ensuring that the most important tasks are addressed each week. On Sunday evening or Monday morning, you can envision what your workweek will look like and get yourself in the frame of mind to do certain things. Lakein proposes that you rank your projects and goals into A, B and C tasks to implement your strategy, enhance your productivity and drive your business forward. He also recommended the development of SMART goals—Specific, Actionable, Measurable, Realistic and Timely. He understood that success stands on the shoulders of productivity, that is, getting the right things done and feeling in control and not overwhelmed as you do.

What’s in it for you

  • Improve focus: By identifying your top priorities each week, you can maintain a clear focus on high-value activities and avoid getting sidetracked by less important tasks.
  • Improve time management: Creating a list of A-list tasks helps you allocate your time effectively, by ensuring that your front-burner tasks or projects are completed on schedule.
  • Improve workflow: Breaking down your tasks makes your work feel manageable, which is critical to limit feelings of stress. Weekly priorities reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed and help you tackle your workload more effectively.
  • Improve productivity: Focusing on high-impact tasks ensures that you make the best use of your time—and that process leads to increased productivity and better results.

Get started

  • Identify and rank tasks: At the beginning of each week, identify the one to three high-value activities that you need to accomplish. These should be tasks that directly contribute to your business goals and have a significant impact on your success. For example on Monday, it may work for you to identifying/ confirm/ discuss your A tasks in an email, phone, or video call to touch base in strategic planning / critical meetings with key clients Or maybe you’ll just roll up sleeves and jump into a front-burner A-level project milestone task.
  • Prioritize A-level tasks: Block out dedicated time in your calendar for each A-level project or important task. Treat these responsibilities as non-negotiable commitments to ensure they receive your full attention.
  • Plan your week: Once you’ve scheduled your A-level tasks, plan the rest of your week around what else is of high priority. Schedule medium-value B-tasks and low-value C-tasks in discrete blocks of time where they will fit and your ability to focus and amount of energy allow. B-level tasks probably deserve your attention; C-level tasks might be somewhat worthwhile to you and your business, but they fade in comparison to A- and B-level responsibilities.
  • Monitor progress: At the end of each week, review your progress on your A-level tasks first, followed by B-level and C-level tasks. Reflect on what you accomplished, any challenges you faced, and what you can improve for the following week.
  • Adjust as needed: If you find that you consistently struggle to complete your A-level tasks, reassess your approach. You may need to adjust your schedule, outsource certain tasks, or reassess and recalibrate your A-level priorities, if that is possible.

Celebrate achievements

  1. Be realistic: Choose a manageable number of A-level major tasks each week. Overloading yourself with too many high-priority tasks often lead to burnout and decreased productivity.
  2. Communicate: Consider sharing your progress on A-level project related tasks with the client contact or team, as a way to demonstrate your organizational skills and promote support for your workflow. Good communication helps everyone understand the top priorities and encourages them to work together towards the goals.
  3. Be flexible: While it’s important to stick to your schedule, be prepared to adjust if unexpected high-priority tasks arise. The key is to stay focused on your top priorities while remaining adaptable.
  4. Celebrate achievements: At the end of each week, take time to celebrate your achievements. Recognizing your progress can boost motivation and encourage continued focus on high-value activities. Schedule a video call or at the very least, send round an email. You can land this plane!

Thanks for reading,

Kim

Image: © r/aviation AIRdomination (circa 2021) Cockpit view of a plane landing in Seattle, WA.

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Stress Takes A Holiday

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The holiday season has arrived and with it a boatload of potential stressors, good and bad. The delight of being a party host or guest are examples of good stress (and if this is not the case, your stress management assignment begins with asking yourself why you bother?).  The process of Christmas shopping and the associated costs of time and money, along with holiday cooking and cleaning, are examples of potentially bad stress.  In this post, I offer stress management techniques that can prove to be beneficial all year round.

Time management and boundaries

The always-on 24/7 lifestyle that so many of us feel compelled to lead is a huge stressor. The ability to set priorities and boundaries is more important than ever.  In most cases, there is no need to be available for professional matters before 8:00 AM or after 8:00 PM.

In your personal life,  learn to say no to controlling people and time-wasters, even if those individuals happen to be family members.  Have the courage to acknowledge what is important to you and distance yourself from manipulative people. Unhook your feelings of self-worth from the need to “save” people.  Help yourself to achieve goals and fulfill responsibilities by making lists and schedules and allow yourself sufficient time to complete tasks.  Learn to delegate.  Accept that some tasks are low priority and may need to be removed from your list.

Anger management

Learning to handle our emotions is a lifelong proposition.  Awareness is the first step.  Be advised that all of our emotions are “justified” because that is how we feel at that time.  It is your right and responsibility to define and acknowledge the emotions you feel.  The skill set called Emotional Intelligence teaches us to refrain from allowing our emotions to overwhelm us, cloud our judgment and lead us to do or say things that may damage our relationships and credibility.

Anticipate encounters with people who you may find upsetting and rehearse your responses to words and behaviors that you may experience as hostile and disrespectful.  Role play with yourself replies that could potentially defuse a stressful conversation and allow you to put distance between yourself and the stressor, limiting contact and helping you to control your emotions.  Be mindful that some people enjoy trouble and they are constant agitators.  They crave attention and control.  Do what you can to banish these individuals from your life.

Exercise

Exercise releases into the body hormones (endorphins and serotonin) that counteract the “fight or flight” response hormones that are released when we are under stress (adrenaline, ACTH).  Exercise also improves the functioning of the immune system and in the process helps us to fight off certain diseases.  Some experts recommend that we would be wise to participate in physical activity four or five days a week, for at least 45 minutes per session. You may play a sport, ride a bike, swim, walk, do aerobics, yoga, Pilates and/or lift weights. Experiment with different types of exercise to learn what you like and do it on a regular basis.  Exercise provides physical release and reduces tension and stress, calms and clears the mind, helps us to sleep better and improves self-esteem.

Meditation

The relaxation response is enabled by meditation and other self-regulated relaxation techniques.  Meditation requires only a few minutes of your time and a private, quiet and comfortable location.  Watch a YouTube video to show you what to do.  Shut off the television and your telephone.  Choose a word or short phrase to silently repeat to yourself as you close your eyes and breathe in and out, slowly and deeply.  Meditation enthusiasts recommend that you meditate early in the morning before starting your day, or in the evening just before dinner.

Sleep

Inadequate sleep is epidemic these days and it is seriously detrimental to one’s health and ability to manage stress.  Surprisingly, sleep deprivation contributes to weight gain by releasing the stress hormone cortisol, which increases appetite.  When we are fatigued, our choice of foods is usually unhealthy and laden with sugar for an energy boost, or high fat, or salty.  The stage is then set for taking on unwanted pounds.

Being tired undermines creativity, judgment and decision-making, productivity and self-discipline.  Do what you can to get in those eight hours each night.  Be advised that caffeine and alcohol are for many the enemies of sleep and intake should be limited near to bedtime.

Nutrition

Physical, mental and emotional stressors drain the body of complex nutrients that support optimal physical and cognitive functioning.  If these nutrients are not replaced fairly quickly, coping skills diminish, decision-making ability suffers, fatigue ensues, mood and emotional control deteriorate.

Avoid the temptation to consume foods high in fat, salt, or sugar, or consume excess caffeine or alcohol, while in the midst of a stressful event.  Do yourself a favor and eat a bagel with peanut butter, a rice bowl with vegetables, a sandwich, or a plate of pasta.  Over the long-term, eat a balanced diet that supplies adequate amounts of green vegetables, fruits, proteins and carbohydrates.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

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The Stress Syndrome

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We are on the cusp of the holiday season.  It’s a special time of year but sadly, it is often freighted with challenges.  Responsibilities metastasize and usually include some combination of peeling potatoes; coring and slicing apples; ironing table cloths; Christmas shopping; writing cards; and putting up decorations. Obligations such as attending workplace or family parties can feel like a burden. The expectation (sometimes forced) to have  fun might backfire and instead cause you to feel inadequate if you’re unable to get into a festive mood. Humbug!

Despite the bright lights and parties, the stress level for most of us reaches an annual high at this time of year. The Thanksgiving – Christmas – New Year’s Eve axis can overwhelm the best of us.  It’s easy to feel lonely, or even like a failure.  Business owners and Freelancers may be faced with the realization that income projections were not reached, adding to the anxiety.

What is the antidote? I suggest that a two or three-week out-of-town vacation is the ideal remedy.  Other than buying and writing cards (which can be done while away) and taking care of a short gift list, all other stress-inducing elements could be diplomatically sidestepped. Those unable to budget the time and money to de-camp to the Bahamas are encouraged to put into motion a comprehensive stress management program.

Regardless of the season, stress is a condition that spares no age cohort or socioeconomic stratum.  School children become stressed over homework and piano lessons. Their parents become stressed as a result of a long work commute or increased job responsibilities. Please know that there is good stress, too—buying a home, going away to college, getting married and starting a new job bring into your life stress that emanates from positive events.

The sources of stress will vary, but the need to manage those stressors and the related hassles and anxiety is constant. Giving some thought to how and why the stressful situation occurs is Step One of your stress management program and brainstorming possible changes that might remove or diminish the stress is Step Two.  Improving one’s ability to manage stress by developing coping skills and learning to relax is Step Three.

Stress management is a multi-disciplinary process that includes managing time, adequate sleep, good nutrition, exercise, anger management and relaxation techniques.  Next week, I’ll return with some specific suggestions.

Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for reading,

Kim

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Power Through Stress

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There are two types of people in this world—those who make things happen and those who allow things to happen to them.  Reader friend,  I know that you are the first type,  a mover & shaker take-charge Freelance professional who knows how to make good things happen.

But every once in a while,  I also know that the best-laid plans will not produce the expected outcome.  Other times, responsibilities and obligations pile on to a distressing level.  Such events might cause even a high-performing Freelance consultant to feel helpless and overwhelmed and as a result, stressed.

University of Florida psychologist Timothy Judge and colleagues encourage us to give ourselves a pep talk during challenging times, to promote the feeling that we are still able to exert control over the levers of our life and business (occasional slips of the grip notwithstanding), because his team’s research quite clearly indicates that those who feel confident in their abilities and in control of their lives are much better at managing stress and getting themselves positioned to capitalize on opportunities and dismantling or avoiding obstacles that block success.

Those who feel as if they are in control of their life and work can simultaneously feel very intense stress and anxiety from time to time.  However, their resilience equips them to manage those feelings differently from the passive types.  The powerful get busy when adversity strikes, while the passive are inclined to accept negative circumstances as inevitable and conclude that there is no recourse. They give up.

The ability to manage emotions and remain calm under intense pressure has a direct link to performance and the ability to perform well has a direct link to success.  Luck plays a role (let us not arrogantly deny that force of the universe),  but we are sometimes able to summon good luck into our lives.  It is often said that fortune favors the prepared.

As regards defeating or minimizing adversity,  realism makes us more resilient.  Prepare yourself for change by accepting that ups and downs are inevitable and the good times will not roll forever.  When billable hours are abundant and additional cash is available,  create short- and long-term savings and investment goals.  If nothing else, add more money to your retirement fund.  Whatever happens good or bad, money will be useful.  Think also of Plan B and even Plan C  alternatives that you could pivot into should unfortunate occurrences darken your door.

If you are presently in the clutches of challenging circumstances, you have my deepest sympathy.  Moreover I can empathize, because I’ve been there and I’m terrified of returning.  Respectfully,  I suggest that you take steps to shift your perspective to adopt the viewpoint of power and gain the confidence to take the reins. There may be aspects of your dilemma that are beyond your control,  but you are capable of controlling your response to it.  Long-term wallowing in self-pity is not useful.

Stress and anxiety can put us into a choke-hold.  To slip out, take action to build up your body’s hormonal stress-busters,  endorphins and serotonin,  with some regular exercise.  Any kind will do,  so long as you partake three or four times each week for a minimum of 30 minutes.  Please see my post from December 22, 2015. https://freelancetheconsultantsdiary.wordpress.com/2015/12/22/exercise-leadership-in-the-new-year

Once you peel away a few layers of stress and anxiety,  you’ll be able to apply your renewed confidence to identifying corrective strategies.  It may take a while to engineer your repackaging or pivot,  but the time to begin the transformation  from passive to powerful is now.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

 

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So Take A Vacation, Already

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A 2011 survey by American Express revealed that fewer than half of U.S. small business owners will take a vacation this summer.   37 % cited that their work schedules would not allow them to take time off.   29 % reported that they were unable to afford a vacation.  16 %  stated that they do not take vacations,  period.  A 2013 study by Staples reported that more than 40 % of small business owners find it difficult to relax and enjoy themselves when they do take a vacation,  due to constant concerns about what may be happening to their business while they are away.

Regardless of the habits of American small business owners,  research indicates that vacations are more beneficial than they realize and that all those who work would be wise to take time off.  Doing so confers benefits to both one’s health and business productivity.  The landmark Framingham (MA) Heart Study revealed that women who on average took only one vacation in six years were nearly eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than those who vacation annually.  A 2008 study reported that men who do not take a vacation every year are 32 % more likely to die of a heart attack than men who do vacation every year.

No doubt other factors were involved in bringing on those coronary events,  but there is still a demonstrable positive correlation between stepping away from the grind of work and overall health.  To function optimally,  both the brain and heart like a little rest now and again.  Without adequate rest,  we descend into fatigue and fatigue makes it difficult for us to think either rationally or creatively and we are less able to make smart decisions.

Peter Handal,  CEO of the venerable leadership development company Dale Carnegie strongly recommends that workers take a few days off and do something that they enjoy.  A recent study by Intuit found that 82 % of small business owners who took a vacation experienced an increase in performance when they returned to their business.  A 2005 study by organizational psychologists Charlotte Fritz of Portland (OR) State University and Sabine Sonnentag of the University of Manheim (Germany) demonstrated the phenomenon of a post-vacation boost in energy reserves that results in greater productivity per hour worked.

The Protestant Work Ethic that the Puritans imposed onto the United States has in many ways done more harm than good.  In terms of the number of vacation days and holidays awarded to workers by companies in the industrialized nations,  the US ranks dead last.  Americans foolishly think that the workaholic is the virtuous, high-producing hero and that the more hours worked,  the better.  But Henry Ford,  who conducted various productivity studies at his Detroit plant for 12 years,   learned in the 1920s that worker productivity falls sharply after 40 hours/week.  That’s why he reduced his factory worker’s week to 5 days,  40 hours from 6 days,  48 hours.

Research about the optimal length of vacation time off is conflicting,  with some researchers advocating for shorter breaks and others recommending 2 weeks or more,  as is the standard in Latin America and Europe.  Vacations can be difficult for the self-employed,  who often have inconsistent income streams.  Still,  whenever you can,  take a few days off when you are not busy and get out of town.  Stay with a friend or get a bed from Air BandB.  Participate in low-cost activities that you enjoy,  whether it’s camping,  hiking,  going to the beach,  attending free outdoor music festivals or visiting museums.   Your smart phone will help you keep up with important emails.   You are guaranteed to lose a few layers of stress,  improve your overall health,  increase your productivity and feel better about your self.

On Thursday morning,  I will travel to Portland, ME for four days of R & R that will feature a scenic cruise on Casco Bay and lots of lobster!

Thanks for reading,

Kim