How do you feel about days off and vacation time?

CryptoGuru Level X³

July 15, 2016, 8:47 pm

34

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How do you feel about days off and vacation time?

I can be honest, working for your self has it's perks, but you know working 24/7 around the clock can be mentally and physically draining.

And being human, every one needs a break. And, so with that being said i would love to hear from my fellow freelancers how they go about preparing for a vacation and when is the best time to take that kind of break. I also want to hear how often do you guys give yourself regular weekly breaks (days off) or you might just be like me, no breaks.

Just curious too see how time is managed between work and play.

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TommyCarey

TommyCarey

I typically work everyday, but it doesn't feel like it. If I don't open my laptop at all during the day, but I check emails on my phone, I'm still working lol

I do go on vacations, but I still bring my laptop just in case I need to get something done. We just had the 4th of July in the USA and I was gone from the 1st through the 5th, but I worked every day because I brought my laptop and had an internet connection. Now I wasn't working 6 to 12 hours a day during those days. I was probably doing around 1 or 2 hours a day answering emails, calling back clients who called me, or setting up campaigns for new clients.

When I first started dating my girlfriend she didn't understand that I had to do something online every day. She would tell me that I could get to it tomorrow, but what she didn't understand at the time was that I was my own boss and no one tells me to get back to work lol. If I let something slide one day, I might forget about it tomorrow and then it gets pushed back so far that I never remember to do it. So now when I say I have to work, she just asks for an estimated time frame on when I'll be finished, and she plans around it haha.

If I'm on vacation and I have to work, my girlfriend will usually bring our little girl somewhere fun like mini golfing or out to ice cream and come back. I try not to work too much during these times because I don't want to miss too much, but I have to work a lot since I'm the CEO

8 years ago

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Everett

Everett

I have a Gmail App, and that thing is constantly going off. I don't want to turn it off because it feels like I am ignoring my clients or my online work. Does anyone else feel this way? Lol. It's so weird too because I feel like I'm someone important and people are always contacting me.

I have to use the "Do Not Disturb" feature sometimes as I can not get it to stop.. Haha. But overall, I don't mind, it feels great knowing that for every message you receive that's either A. a potential client, B. a client needs assistance, or C. you've just earned money.

8 years ago

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TommyCarey

TommyCarey

lol whenever I set up my apps so that I don't get notified, I always feel like I'm missing something important

8 years ago

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CryptoGuru

CryptoGuru

lol that is great man it is good to see you have found someone with the patience to understand how you work , i can agree with you , you have made a few points like i said my work does not stop so with what you said you know it is all a bout finding some kind of balance, i work at a desk but it sounds to me like a laptop should be my next investment so i can work while on the road , i appreciate you taking the time out too comment , i always love seeing what others views are.

8 years ago

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Everett

Everett

I usually like to take weekends off while freelancing, however sometimes I can't due to expenses so i have to work to meet ends meet. I don't mind working 7 days a week, 365 days a year because it's like I'm always off as I work from home. If I feel I need a break, then usually I'll work for about 4 hours on the weekends.

I don't mind working online, it's fun for me, as you're at your own house working. However, sometimes it's too much work but it all pays off in the end.

8 years ago

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CryptoGuru

CryptoGuru

and that is really the goal is it not? too make sure those bills get paid , that is good man i see you found a pace of work that works for you, sometimes it can hard to be in charge of your self i have times were i fight the urge to be lazy and knock every thing out in a few hours but just like you i find days where i want to work less hours and relax and i think it is good too find a balance between working and free time especially in our field, appreciate your comment

8 years ago

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ajlancer

ajlancer

Hi jkeyz2 Thanks your good question. I have been involving on outsourcing over 7 years but still I do not leave any day without doing job. Day off may happen only due to my serious sickness, either I have to do job all days I mean 30 days in a month and 365 days in a years. Yes! I agree with you, as a human we need to break for sometimes. Honestly, I do not get such time. For example: this month I have celebrate our religious holiday for a week but be frankly I decrease my work time but cannot leave fully for whole time.
It is mean that as a freelancer, you do not have such freedom, whether other profession has at least few days completely day off.

Regards by Ajlancer

8 years ago

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Everett

Everett

I'm very curious as to what religious holiday you're celebrating, do you mind if you disclose? What do you do for the holiday? Also, I work during my sickness. The only time in which I don't work is if I don't have the energy to type, or be on the computer. I've usually worked being sick as I don't feel being sick is an excuse from not working.. that's just the way I am, or was 'raised'.

I was raised to work even if you're sick, as it's only temporarily and it'll eventually pass. Once I came into work on my 9 to 5, almost crawling my way down the hall and the manager yelled at me, and was like "I told you not to come in! Go home!" And i was like, i have work to do! And he helped me out the door, and i went home.. lol

8 years ago

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CryptoGuru

CryptoGuru

yea and i completely agree free lancers do not get freedom, at the end of the day it is up to us and only us too stay on top of ourselves as nobody is going to do it for you , but as razzy mentioned earlier that really caught my attention is that you can vacation with a laptop lol i plan on getting one soon that way you know you do not feel obligated to stay inside the same walls 24/7 it can be real draining my advice get a laptop and get out there there a whole world outside the house lol

8 years ago

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EliteWriter

EliteWriter

I do not take any lengthy breaks, and no matter how many times I tell myself to do so I never managed. I always keep checking my tablet or mobile so as to see emails that come in, notifications and so on. So even though I am not actually working, in that I am not writing, I still am thinking about work so it is not a vacation. I respond to clients and make arrangements and so on. It is difficult to take a break when you are a freelancer. I guess the actual break I will get to take is only when I am on a trip abroad.

8 years ago

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CryptoGuru

CryptoGuru

yea i fully understand you can never fully detach your self from work trust me i know i am the bread and butter of the family i got weight on my shoulders so i understand , work will never be something you can just leave alone everyday you have to pick up were you left off and the bottom line for free lance work is that it can really time consuming, luckily for me i manage you know i have a good balance and work ethic so im able to stay on top of things while still managing free time, all depends on the person i guess

8 years ago

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anwebservices

anwebservices

After long time i recently vent to 5 days vacation and it was very relaxing. Sometime i take day off on weekends but it's different story. Five days off without my laptop was good. I released all stress and filled up positive energy to work further. I had time to think of some further strategies regarding this freelancing work, and when your mind is clearer and relaxed, you really come up with some good ideas easier. It's not possible to afford such things any time so whenever it's possible, it's good idea to relax, "refresh" & "restart" like we do for our computers

8 years ago

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CryptoGuru

CryptoGuru

yea man see this is the type of answer i was looking for , i think some times certain people put way too much stress on themselves they work to hard and it can be those be who feel the most stressed an overwhelmed it can be sad to see how stress can effect you mentally and physically a break is always needed we are not machines we are human so with that comes an understanding that you know it is ok to work how but you also need to have some kind of enjoyment in life, all work and no play ? what is the purpose you know why work hard and not treat yourself

8 years ago

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EliteWriter

EliteWriter

Yes I believe that traveling is the only escape, so to speak, that we can get, and I hope I will be able to do it sometime soon. I would like to be able to take some real time off. Since it is summer we went for a family day at the beach a couple of days ago, and even though I had a good time I was still eager to get back to check on the work I had to do. As a result of the 'off day' I ended up with much more work on subsequent days, and so I was more stressed out.

8 years ago

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CryptoGuru

CryptoGuru

yes it is something about a change of scenery that really gives relief, it is a feel good type of thing you know you feel alive and not just like a workaholic giving your self these types of breaks can really refresh you in so many ways and feeling refreshed is always good for work, after a good break you roaring and ready to get back to it re motivated and re energized and that is always great you cant get around that some people work themselves around the clock and feel some what miserable i cant not be that person , i refuse to work so hard and not reward myself for it ,

8 years ago

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Lynne

Lynne

My longest "holiday" in the last 8 years was 2 weeks, from the morning I gave birth to my son via c-section on Friday 20 December 2013 and on the 06 January 2014 I was back at work full time, with my baby.

I still worked a bit during those 2 weeks though but obviously not too much. I had my ipad in the hospital and caught up on some things

I do sometimes take time off, but when I say time off I always have my laptop with me and I always work a little bit.

I work during the week and on weekends I usually don't work much.

I think if you work online and work for yourself you never really stop working.

8 years ago

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CryptoGuru

CryptoGuru

yes laptops! i do not have one yet but you guys have me convinced it is the way to go lol i need that type of freedom i really do i would be able to do so much more and really broaden my horizons see i always wanted too travel and in order for me to do so i am going to have to take the time too invest in a laptop. your the 3rd person i seen mention it and and from what i have noticed those with just at home work stations are the ones that never get out , key is too make your self mobile i guess. lol

8 years ago

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Lynne

Lynne

Oh yes you must! A few days after I gave birth to my son I went to my parents farm for a week so my mom could help me with my toddler and my new baby. I took my laptop and managed to keep an eye on my business.

I love it because I have also been able to work while out. Last winter we had a load of electricity cuts and if my town was down I would take my laptop and go and work at a coffee shop in the next town

If you don't have a laptop then you are limiting yourself big time.

8 years ago

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CryptoGuru

CryptoGuru

you know and it is stuff like that , that always makes it a pleasure to hear what you have to say Lynne , i can be honest i never thought of a situation having to do with my power going out so to me your like ten steps ahead of the game right now, if it were too happen to me at the moment (crosses fingers lol) i would be a little stuck, and as you mentioned a laptop could save me the trouble all i need is to make the move and get some WiFi access i should be in the clear

8 years ago

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Lynne

Lynne

LOL it was awful last year honestly. Almost every single day in winter almost every single town in our country took a turn to have no electricity for between 1 - 4 hours.

Our power supplier could not supply power to the whole country so we had what they called "Load Shedding" where they gave each town a turn to be without power for a period of time.

Imagine being a massive corporation and every day having all your employees sitting twiddling their thumbs for 2 hours while you pay their salaries? No power to run your machinery in your factory? No internet or computers for your staff? No coffee eeeekkkkk

The amount of money that businesses lost was insane.

8 years ago

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MasterA

MasterA

The advantage of being a freelancer is that you can have a break at any time but the disadvantage of being a freelancing is that you can’t have a break at any time. Read on before you think I am contradicting myself. As a freelancer, you can close your store and go on holiday whenever you want but something you should bear in mind is that during this period your income is zero. With a job, you can take your annual leave which means you get paid even when you are on holiday. The best time to go on holiday is to go during a period when your sales is lowest so you lose less business.

8 years ago

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Corzhens

Corzhens

Everyone needs a vacation time for our mind to recover from the daily grind. As the saying goes, no one is free from stress in this fast-paced life especially if you are working online that you wake up to work every day and sleep right after working. With a vacation, at least you can enjoy life even for a few days only. That’s the main reason why I spend a lot in traveling abroad because when I come back from the trip, my mind is refreshed and fertile that it makes the work easier.

7 years ago

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