One thing I really like about freelancing is being in control of your own time, you decide when you work and how much holiday you take. One thing I hate is that no-one does the work while you are away.
I have just been away for a week down to Devon, hence my response to comments has been rather quiet, but thank you to those people that left comments. What was nice about being away was not being bombarded with emails for a week, I didn’t have access to a computer which makes a real change. What about mobile phones though – should a freelancer turn of their mobile phone while they are away or is it business as usual? I like to let my clients know that I am going away (if for a week or more) a few weeks/month in advance so I can tidy up any loose ends while I am away and most of them are pretty good about this. If there is something urgent to deal with that I am aware of I don’t mind taking phone call but other than that my time should be mine.
How do you deal with clients who contact you on holiday? This year there was no mobile phone signal where we were staying, so until we went out to another town after a few days I didn’t receive a text message a client had sent asking me a question (and by that time it was too late to answer anyway). The problem is not the question that was being asked which was relatively minor, the problem is it immediately puts you back in a work frame of mind.
So my question to all the freelancers is what do you do, turn off the mobile and email and relax or is it business as usual?
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13 Comments
Tell them in advance.
Don’t answer anything. They will live if you did your job.
When you get back, send a reminder joke about your holiday in every email. If any client forgot about it, the joke will lighten their spirits and they will feel silly for not remembering, not mad.
Rule #1: Let clients feel like they control you, but don’t let them actually have that power. Don’t answer! They don’t call their coworker they know is on vacation, so why call you when you’re on vacation?
Hi Tara,
Is that photo of Lynmouth where you were? It looks beautiful.
Since I’ve been self-employed, I’ve not really taken any long breaks, which is a little sad. That’s all going to change towards the end of November though, when I take to India for a month. Can’t wait! My mobile will be with me, but I’ll have it turned off for the majority of the time.
I’ve already informed most of my clients that I’ll be away, and will tell the others shortly.
Hi Louisa, thanks for your input, I am in total agreement.
Hi David, yes its Lynmouth, we have been there three times so far – and love it. One of my clients told me what a great place it was and had pics of it in her office, which is why we went the first time. We have just taken my boyfriend’s Dad and Step Mum there (for the second time), they are over visiting us from Grande Cache, Canade (Alberta – Rocky Mountains).
Have a great time in India.
Hi Tara,
The photo looks lovely.
I often forget to charge my mobile for days at a time and there is rarely a crisis and I think as Louisa said, if you tell them in advance there should be no issue.
David, I’m off to India for three weeks in October too and my mobile will definitely be turned off. I *MIGHT* have to check into an internet cafe to keep an eye on a couple of things though…
Thanks Tara.
Have you been to India before, Jennifer? It’ll be my first time. Whereabouts are you headed?
I don’t turn my mobile off when I’m on vaca, but only because it serves as my personal & business line.
My solution instead is to leave the phone on vibrate, and check it once or twice daily. If I see a call from a friend or family member, I’ll call back to see what’s up. If not, the call can wait until I return to the grind. I always inform clients of long-ish absences, and I’ve never had a situation yet where one didn’t respect my time away.
Hi Jennifer, thanks about the pic – as I said Lynmouth is an amazing place, looks almost like another country rather than England. Have fun in India – look forward to seeing a few pics on your blog maybe?
Hi Charity, Leaving your phone on vibrate is a good idea. Most of my clients are pretty good it’s just the odd one that’s not.
I work with a group of two other guys (a sort of collective) I always give my clients the numbers of my partners in case of emergency. In addition to design and development I also host the websites i make. So this adds a whole new element of around the clock service that sometimes seems to not really be worth the extra money. There’s always that person who can’t remember their password or wants to know why their website works so slow on their grandma’s 386 with 56k modem:)
I think the good practice is to tell you client that you are on vacation for how much time. Then you can switch off all your cellular and computers.
But the thing is that it is always when you are unavailable that you get urgent jobs. Maybe you should try what my uncle used to do. He ask a good friend of him to look at the business if ever there is a real big matters, and it’s only his friend that has his number.
But you should not forget that you should help your friend in returns if he is on vacation.
I thought I was alone in feeling like this. I’ll be back again, Tara.
I simply tell my clients in advance when I’m going away, do my best to tie up any loose ends that they need dealing with before I go away, and I find my clients are polite enough not to bother me when they know I’m on holiday.
If they did so happen to phone or text, I would ignore it until my return as nothing is that urgent that it can’t wait a week. I only ever go away for a week at a time!
I’ve been to Lynmouth, it’s lovely isn’t it.
I do find with this notifying in advance though, is that all your clients suddenly go crazy on you with their demands to get things done before you go (It’s only a week people!) and hence by the time you leave to go on holiday you are totally knackered!
Amanda
Hi Justin, I don’t envy you loking after those hosting accounts while you are away.
Hi Vincent, the swap over with a friend is a good idea.
Hi Bankruptcy, looking forward to hearing from you again soon.
Hi Amanda, I know what you mean about all the last minute jobs, you definitely need your holiday when you get there.
What’s a vacation?
Seriously though, I just turn off my business mobile and though I’ll check my emails I’ll only respond to something critical.
Autoresponders all the way!
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