While there are many benefits to working for yourself, one of the disadvantages is that you only get paid for when you work. There is no holiday or sick pay, which makes it difficult to switch off even if you’re ill in bed or having the best day of your life on holiday.
However, this isn’t healthy for you or your business, so finding a balance is imperative. If you want to enjoy the festive period without worrying about your work, then read on for some helpful tips on how you can do this without losing out on a good time, or on your work.
Find out what your clients are doing
First of all, make sure you have it clear in your head how much (if anything) you need to do over Christmas. What are your clients expecting? When are they working and what deadlines have they given you? If your client is quiet over Christmas and isn’t going to the into the office then are your normal deadlines still relevant?
Double-check over your contract about time off and see what you’re entitled to and when. How much notice do you need to give? Find out what is needed and then you can go from there.
Plan ahead
This can be easier said than done when you’re trying to get things finished. But, if you’re working as a contractor, it’s a good idea to get the timing right and have a contract that finishes before Christmas and one lined up shortly after. That way, you can relax fully over Christmas and not have to worry about a thing.
Arrange cover
Sometimes it might be that the work just has to be done, but does this mean it has to be done by you? Perhaps there’s someone else who could cover for you who wants to earn some extra cash over Christmas. It might not be easy to find and you might have to spend some time training this person, but it can be handy to have and is definitely worth looking into.
Work and enjoy the benefits
Of course, you don’t have to take time off over Christmas and you can simply reap the benefits of working over the holidays. You might find that there is more work available because other people are on holiday, you might be able to charge more and you won’t feel the financial blow once January comes.
As long as you can manage your time well enough, there’s no reason why you can’t work some overtime leading up to Christmas, then work around the festivities and still see the significant financial benefits of working during the holidays.
Author: Steven English
17.12.2021
