Employed folk don’t know how good they’ve got it.
By Kim Ellis
Ok, now I have your attention, seriously think about it though. When was the last time you actually took a ‘proper’ holiday? One where you weren’t checking your emails, or worried if the work you’d subbed out has been done?
Holiday might be a bit of a strong word here. When we think ‘holiday’ or ‘vacation’ we picture actually travelling places, seeing new sights, eating amazing food and sending postcards (yes people still do that).
Let’s look at the festive season, many employed folks will take some time off over Christmas. Some companies even shut down until the New Year, and this is great for their employees wellbeing. It gives them the time to reset, recharge, catch up with the family… and eat amazing food. And get paid while they take this much needed time off!
As someone who runs their own business, what are your plans?
Last year, I was on ‘holiday’ but still working. I was all snuggly in a log cabin in Wales, feet up and alternating between knitting, watching TV and working. The laptop wasn’t open all the time, but it was open every day. Plus, I have my emails on the phone, so even without the laptop I’m still able to see what’s happening.
The wi-fi in the cabin is super slow and patchy so for client calls, I’ll wrap up warm and head down to the barn to use theirs – last year I was in the barn so often they even set me up a desk with a heater. That was due to a long-standing client which had an urgent piece of work, so scoping calls needed to be had.
This might seem absolutely bonkers, where’s the holiday in all this?
The ‘holiday’ was in the getting away, the change of scenery, the seeing friends, the hot tub, the movie nights and making scones and biscuits.
Once we got home, over the festive week I ate a lot, saw friends and family, ate even more but still worked. This project had a deadline in the New Year, so I wanted to get that done and to the client as soon as possible.
What would you do if a client landed a gig in your lap in the festive period?
When you work for yourself, you can plan to not do any work, but would you really turn down a few grand for a quick turnaround job? If you said no to them would that mean losing potential work in future? These are considerations which you need to think about when you’re planning holidays or taking time off.
Outsourcing is an option, if you can’t do the piece of work, do you know someone else who could take it on? Then you get a bit, and they get a bit, it’s the freelancers backscratching model.
Something else you can do is reach out to your clients beforehand, let them know when you’re going to be unavailable. And if they have work in the pipeline, ask if their deadlines are set in stone or if there’s some wiggle room to be had.
I had a client a couple of years ago who wanted a questionnaire to go out to their staff the week before Christmas. Yep, the week before Christmas. If I hadn’t questioned the client about deadlines (and their expected completion rates) I would have been working an awful lot during her holiday to get it pushed out in time.
After convincing the client that no employee is going to be bothered to fill in a questionnaire just before they go on holiday, I managed to convince them to launch after the New Year when people would be refreshed. As a result, the completion rates were very good, and the project progressed.
If you work constantly, you’re going to burn out. It’s that simple.
You need to really think about setting boundaries and being clear about what works for you. The festive season is a perfect time to reflect on how you manage your workload and personal time. As self-employed professionals, we often feel the pressure to always be available, but this doesn’t mean sacrificing your well-being or quality time with loved ones.
And yes, I know the thought of quiet times can make us question whether we should even be doing this. There are stretches when the pipeline isn’t as full as you’d like, and it’s tempting to keep pushing, keep working, keep grabbing for anything that looks like work. Because the devil on our shoulder is whispering that if we aren’t working we aren’t earning.
But trust me, stepping back for even a short while can give you the clarity to focus on the work that really matters – and stop chasing after every job that comes your way.
Think about it – what’s the point of being your own boss if you can’t dictate your schedule now and then? Sure, there are times when we all need to roll up our sleeves and put in the extra hours, but balance is the key to business sustainability.
This year, consider what a true holiday looks like for you. It might mean completely switching off for a week, or it could be a hybrid approach where you check in once a day but set clear limits.
Communicate with your clients, plan ahead, and give yourself the ability to step away when needed.
Something I’ve done for 2025 is block out a week or two every few months, and one day per week in my calendar. Not only will this give me a meeting-free day every week, but it will also allow me to have some downtime – maybe even take an actual holiday. If it comes round to that time and I need to work, I might work, I might push back. But the main thing is that blocking weeks out gives me the time to recharge if I need to rather than working flat out.
Because here’s the thing, when you return after taking a break, you’ll be refreshed, energised, and ready to tackle work with fresh ideas and enthusiasm.
So, as you head into December, ask yourself if it’s time to wind down yet. If the answer is yes, make it happen. And then look at 2025 and book some time off – or even try a four-day week.
