Summer Planning Tips for Freelance Professionals

“Wait… how do I actually step away from my business without it falling apart? - Plan your time off like it's a launch You’d plan a client launch, wouldn’t you? So give your break the same energy. Look ahead and block the time in your calendar. Tell your clients early—none of this “I’ll just sneak away and hope they don’t notice” nonsense. Respect your own boundaries and model it for them. - Give yourself buffer days—before and after. Because trying to pack a suitcase after a 10-hour client day? That’s a one-way ticket to Meltdown Central, complete with a dramatic ‘I have nothing to wear!’ spiral in the Tesco clothing aisle. - Don’t overload yourself the week before Easier said than done when the kids have been off, eh? But really look at where you can ease up. You don’t need to “earn” your holiday by overbooking yourself the week leading up to it. Rude to your nervous system and entirely avoidable. Think about your capacity in the two weeks leading up to your break. Say no to extra work. Move deadlines. Push back what can wait. Leave room for you to  breath and remember where you put your passport. - Lean on your team  If you’ve got a team—even if it’s one superstar VA—you don’t have to do this alone. Give someone access to the essentials. Create a Holiday Handoff Doc with “what to do if…” scenarios. If you’re solo? Consider doing a holiday swap with a fellow VA. You cover them for their break, they cover you for yours. Genius.  Community wins again. - Be brutal with your phone notifications Ask yourself: Does this notification spark joy or stress? If it’s the latter, get rid! Turn off Slack. Delete your email app if you’re feeling bold (lol nope!). Keep only the bare minimum essentials—Maps, airline apps, music (obvs). Trust me, social media life will be just fine without you for a few days (and if it isn’t, we riot). Set up a “Digital Detox” home screen on your phone and move all the temptation apps off it. Out of sight, out of mind. - Give yourself permission to actually switch off You are not a machine. Your business doesn’t crumble the second you log off (even if your anxiety tries to convince you otherwise). Taking a break doesn’t make you flaky, unprofessional, or lazy, it makes you human. So pack the book you’ve been “meaning to read” for six months. Bring the music that makes you dance like a crazy. Lie in. People-watch. Eat the crisps. Let yourself rest. Rested you = better business decisions. You come back with more clarity, energy, and possibly a tan. It’s a win-win. Your business will survive. Your brain will thank you. Your suitcase might still be overweight, but at least your stress won’t be. Out of office is officially on. Flip-flops are packed, time to unplug, dance, laugh and switch off responsibilities for a while!

Taking "time off" as a business owner is weird. Because you're never "off" at all. It's the guilt. The anxiety. The constant hum of… → “What if something urgent comes up?” I used to go on holiday and work on the plane, do a 'quick 10 minutes' on the floor of the airport as I waited for luggage and take Zoom calls in my hotel room as my friends waited in the lobby downstairs. I'd take every 'free' minute. To reply to an email To edit a project doc To take sales calls And then 2 weeks later? I'd come home and think... "I need a holiday." Pretty stupid if you ask me now. Today? I'm more mindful of how I work, take intentional breaks and know how to set boundaries. Here's what helped me... 1. Front-load work before departure. Before holidaying: → Notify all your clients/contractors 3-4 weeks early. → Lock in priority deliverables with each client. → Timeblock your calendar to pre-record, pre-write, or pre-approve anything needed. → Create an “If urgent, contact here” system (email auto-reply, WhatsApp, etc). People want predictability. No sudden surprises. No abrupt ghosting. No last-minute chaos. So set your holiday dates in the diary. Then work backwards. Schedule comms, ensure deliverables are met (& clients are happy) and hire a virtual assistant for time-sensitive stuff if needed. This isn't just for your clients. It's for you. So you can enjoy your break without thinking "oh sh*t, my business is on fire and I'm half-naked on a beach in Zanzibar with no Wi-Fi and unable to put it out." Overprepare. 2. Decide what 'time off' means to you. I used to think it had to be all or nothing. Fully off-grid OR full work mode. But actually? I live somewhere in between now. You can work 1-2 hrs/day if that works for you. But work with intention, not out of guilt. - Set a fixed 30-60 min work window - Turn off ALL notifications outside of it - Communicate when (and if) you’ll be available Sometimes, working 60 mins in the AM gives you 10 hours of peace for the rest of the day. Ask: "What will help me feel most comfortable?" Sometimes in business, things come up and you can't predict or fully plan for them. The goal whilst you're away? Low-cognitive-load. Can you genuinely switch off for parts of the day and enjoy well-earned rest (physically AND mentally)? 3. Get over yourself. Tough love time... You’re not *that* important. If you’re good at what you do… If your client experience is solid… If you’ve earned trust with clients… You can disappear for a few days. Reality: most people won't even notice. As long as you've planned ofc. If you think your business will collapse because you’re away for 5 days… That’s not a time-off problem. It’s a systems problem. Or a delivery problem. Or a comms problem. The fix isn’t “never take a break.” It’s to tighten the ops. You built this business for freedom, right? So ACTUALLY enjoy it.

Let's get real for a moment. You know those months where your inbox is eerily quiet? When you start wondering if your last client was actually your last client? Yep, as someone who used to be a lone freelancer, I've been there. More times than I'd like to admit. Freelancing can sometimes feel like you're on the world's most unpredictable rollercoaster. But over the years, I've crafted a strategy to not just survive, but thrive during those 'no income' months. Grab a cup of coffee (or tea, if that's your jam), and let's dive in. 🌺The Rainy Day Fund: First things first, always have a safety net. You know those days of abundance right? Instead of spending the money on things you only want (not need) , set it aside. I set aside a portion of my income during the good months. It's not just about paying bills; it's about peace of mind. 🌺Upskill Time: No clients? No problem. I use this time to learn something new. Whether it's a course on a new design tool or brushing up on marketing trends, I come out more marketable than before. In fact, my first portfolio as a freelancer (which gave me my first $1,500 here on Linkedin) was borne out of one of these dry spell days. 🌺Network, Network, Network: Remember that coffee date you kept postponing or that webinar you bookmarked? Now's the time. Opportunities often come from the most unexpected chats. Human beings can't function well alone. You need other people. Which makes me wonder if the phrase “Self-made” is actually correct. 🌺Re-Evaluate and Pivot: I take a step back and assess. Is there a service that's not getting traction? Maybe it's time to pivot or repackage. Use this period to get expert feedbacks and improve on something. Innovation is the only way to stay ahead in the world of today. 🌺Self-Care Isn't Selfish: It's easy to spiral into anxiety. But I've found that a walk in the park, spa dates, a good book, a weekend getaway or even a Netflix binge can recharge you and take your mind off things for when the next client comes knocking. 🌺Reconnect with Past Clients: A simple 'Hey, how's it going?' can lead to repeat business. It's not about being pushy; it's about staying top of mind. 🌺Golden Nugget Alert 🚨: The Portfolio Revamp: This is my secret weapon. I take this downtime to polish my portfolio, update with recent work, and sometimes even do mock projects. It keeps my creative juices flowing and often attracts new clients who see my updated work. Portfolios are extremely important and if you don't have one, you're missing out. A well-crafted portfolio can be the difference between a 'maybe later' and a 'let's work together now!' If you're wondering how-to get started, you can find a curated list of optimized portfolios through the link In my bio or comment section. In wrapping up, remember this: Dry spells don't define your worth or talent. They're just a part of the freelancing or even entrepreneurship journey. So, tell me, how do you handle the quiet months?

🏢 Architects: Hello workaholics, do we need to learn to vacation better? I get it, we feel like we're constantly overworked, underpaid, and not valued enough by our clients. It's no wonder we struggle to leave everything behind and truly switch off during a vacation. In a field where creativity meets relentless deadlines, we often find ourselves glued to our devices, answering emails, reviewing designs, and attending virtual meetings, even when we're supposed to be relaxing. This constant hustle leaves us exhausted and makes it harder to fully recoup during our time off. When "nose to the grindstone" is consistently your modus operatum, it makes it that much harder to step away from the work. But what if we could change that? What if we learned to vacation better? Here are 5 recommendations to set up operations so you can take a worry-free vacation: 1️⃣ Delegate Responsibilities: Ensure your team knows their roles and can handle tasks in your absence. Empower them to make decisions. 2️⃣ Set Clear Priorities: Outline key projects and deadlines, and communicate them to your team well in advance. 3️⃣ Automate Processes: Use project management tools to automate routine tasks and keep everything on track. 4️⃣ Designate a Point Person: Appoint a trusted team member to be the main contact for any urgent matters. 5️⃣ Establish a Communication Plan: Set expectations for communication while you're away. Limit check-ins to critical issues only. For solo practitioners (but also everyone) 1️⃣ Notify Clients in Advance: Inform your clients about your planned absence and ensure all urgent matters are addressed before you leave. 2️⃣ Set Proper Client Boundaries: Clearly communicate your availability and response times. Let clients know that you will be unavailable during your vacation and provide an alternative contact if necessary. It's time to prioritize our well-being. Taking a real break doesn't just recharge our batteries; it also boosts our creativity and productivity in the long run. So, let's learn to truly disconnect, enjoy the present, and return to work feeling refreshed and more valued. Next time you plan a vacation, commit to a full digital detox. Your mind, body, and creativity will thank you! #ArchitectureLife #WorkLifeBalance #DigitalDetox #MentalHealthMatters #ArchitectsOnVacation _____________________ Hi, 👋🏻 I'm Evelyn Lee, FAIA | NOMA I've been on the client side for over a decade and have spent the last five years in tech, helping create exceptional employee experiences while growing the business. Now, I help architects: ⇒ Think Differently ⇒ Increase Productivity ⇒ Create Opportunities

Don’t take a break from marketing yourself or your organization during the summer - instead ramp it up 🙌🏻 The summer is a great time to focus on your business development and branding efforts, especially since many of your competitors may not be. Most of us still have to work during the summer, we are still interested in networking, reading content, attending webinars, listening to podcasts and watching videos and are scrolling on LinkedIn. We have more time to learn. This is THE time to focus on your own personal branding - especially your social media brand and do all those things on your “would like to do” list. Here are some ideas: - Set up Google Alerts for yourself and your top clients/prospects. Your clients and potential clients are Googling you - know what they see and it gives you reasons to reach out to them. - Reevaluate your business development goals for the year and set three achievable ones for the remainder of 2024. - Reconnect in person with important clients and referrals. - Write a client alert, a blog post, an article or all of these! If writing isn't your thing, co-author a piece with a colleague. Remember, good content doesn’t need to be long. Most individuals skim articles. - Learn how to use LinkedIn for building your brand and business - this means posting consistently and having a content plan. - Make a connections plan for LinkedIn to strategically increase your network. - Look at the analytics of past blog posts and client alerts. Use this information to strengthen your content strategy. Write a part 2 or update a piece that did well. - Enhance and update your bio and LinkedIn profile and update your representative matters. If you don’t say you do something people assume you don’t and also it helps with your SEO. - Become involved with your alumni associations for strategic networking and relationship building. - Ensure that all practice area/industry descriptions on your web site are updated and create new ones as needed. Look for niche areas where your competitors aren’t. - Update lawyer bios. These need to be updated regularly to reflect what you do, for whom you do it and WHY you do it. If your website has bios that all sound the same, consider a bio refresh initiative. - Do research to identify a bar association committee, social cause, trade association or pro bono project to get involved in - it’s a great way to give back to the industry and community, and meet new people. - Create short-form videos like these or a podcast. The summer is a great time to repurpose existing content and try something new. Which of these resonates with you? #legalmarketing #socialmediastrategy #linkedintips #b2bmarketing #personalbrand

Taking a break from work is bittersweet. On one hand, I'm craving the headspace, rest, and time for reflection that a break provides. As a marketing trainer, my days are usually packed with planning and delivering training sessions. It's exhilarating, but it can also be exhausting. On the other hand, stepping away from my business is tough. I'm passionate about what I do, and as a contractor, I know that time off means fewer leads, contracts, and potentially missed opportunities. It's a constant juggling act between self-care and the demands of running a business. I'm sure you can relate if you're a fellow freelancer or entrepreneur. So, how do we navigate this conflict? Here are a few tips I've learned along the way: Plan Ahead: Schedule breaks in advance and communicate your unavailability to clients. This helps manage expectations and allows you to fully disconnect. Set Boundaries: Even during your break, set aside specific times to check emails or address urgent matters. This prevents work from completely taking over your time off. Delegate: If possible, delegate tasks to colleagues or freelancers to ensure that your business continues to run smoothly in your absence. Focus on Rest: Use your break to truly recharge. Whether you're spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies, or simply doing nothing, make sure you prioritise rest and relaxation. Trust the Process: Remember that taking a break is an investment in yourself and your business. A refreshed and recharged you will be even more effective when you return. We all need time to rest, recharge, and refocus. It's okay to step away from work, even if it feels a little uncomfortable. What are your tips for balancing work and rest as a freelancer or entrepreneur? Share your thoughts in the comments below! #Freelancing #WorkLifeBalance #EntrepreneurLife #SelfCare

You’re about to hit the ‘out of office’ wall, here’s how to get ahead of it. Over the years, I’ve found there are two black holes for customer engagement: ➡️ Thanksgiving through New Year ➡️ Summer One summer, when I was a CSM I was working on a high-stakes competitive renewal with significant expansion on the table. Conversations were moving, momentum was strong… until I sent an email and got the dreaded out-of-office reply. My key stakeholder? Out for three weeks. And I had no idea. That one oversight almost derailed the entire renewal. I did my best to keep things moving, but decision-making was stalled. We barely closed in time and the stress? Not worth it. I never made that mistake again. Here’s how you avoid it entirely this summer: 1️⃣ Audit your book of business: what critical conversations need to happen in the next 8–12 weeks? 2️⃣ Review your calendar: what’s already booked vs. what still needs to be scheduled? 3️⃣ Reach out to your customers now: are any key players taking extended time off? 4️⃣ Ask who’s covering during absences and get those names and contact information. 5️⃣ Be clear with your intentions: renewals, training, QBRs, don’t assume they know. 6️⃣ Confirm attendance: are all stakeholders available for what’s already on the books? 7️⃣ Offer flexibility: adjust dates around their availability. 8️⃣ Book it all now — seriously, don’t wait. 9️⃣ Reconfirm as meetings approach. 🔟 Avoid Mondays and Fridays, protect yourself from last-minute extended weekend bailouts. As a CSM, your superpower is being proactive, and summer is your test. Don't let "OOO" be the reason you miss renewals, lose momentum, or delay critical conversations. Your customers aren’t trying to ghost you, they’re just human. And humans take vacations. Plan now, or pay later. What’s your summer scheduling strategy? Drop your go-to tip below!

Summer is the most underrated season for growth. Everyone slows down. Meetings get lighter, Slack gets quieter, people take vacations. The pressure drops and the calendar clears. That's rare. Use it. Whether you have an internship, a full-time job, or nothing lined up — summer frees up time you didn't have. Fewer commutes, lighter schedules, slower days. That's 3-4 months of breathing room to learn something you've been putting off. Because after summer? Sep and Oct are the busy season. Everyone's catching up on annual plans, then the HOLIDAY SEASON! If you're targeting new roles, the timing is perfect. Summer is right before one of the best hiring seasons (Sep, Oct). If you don't use it, you're waiting until January. Here's what I'd do (and what I'm doing): - Pick one skill and go deep. Not 5 courses. One. (Maybe AI?) - Build something and ship it. Don't tell - show. - Read the books, blogs and substacks you bookmarked and never opened. - Talk to people in roles you want. They have time in summer too. - Document what you're learning and share it. - If you're traveling, find one new person to meet. 1 hour. That's it. And if you do nothing this summer? That's okay too. January will be very exciting for you. 👋

Want to ACTUALLY disconnect from work on your summer vacation? Easier said than done in today’s culture. Somewhere between 70-80% of people report working on vacation (depending on the source). Yet, we know that disconnecting from work is crucial for reducing burnout, increasing energy and engagement, and enhancing health and well-being. How can you actually disconnect without guilt or worrying about what’s happening in your absence? ✈ Have a plan: • Spend time reflecting on your ideal vacation (what will you do to have fun and connect with others?). • Communicate your plans in advance to your leaders, team, and anyone else who may be impacted. • Block time on your calendar before you leave to wrap up tasks and then again when you get back so you can catch up. • Schedule a meeting with your team to plan for your absence, including delegating responsibilities and transitioning projects. • Outline the situations or decisions in which your team should consult another leader and who in your organization they should contact (it never hurts to put this in writing). • Create an “emergency” plan for your team detailing which ONE person can contact you if needed, for what reason(s), and the best way to get in touch if absolutely necessary. • If you’re not going somewhere “off the grid,” consider how you’ll intentionally disconnect (turn off notifications, temporarily delete work accounts from your phone, etc.). 🏔 So, take that disconnected vacation this summer, and let me know how it goes!

One of the biggest challenges freelancers are facing right now (besides, you know, everything)? Finding work. I feel it too. 😭 Faced with the terror an empty calendar inspires, most of us pitch and cold email until our eyes glaze over. There's nothing wrong with that, but you're lucky if you receive one response for every 100 messages you send. So, I encourage you not to overlook your most valuable resource: your existing connections. They know you, they like you, and they're way less likely to leave your thoughtfully crafted email unanswered. If you, like most of us, are trying to get some new projects on your schedule and clients on your roster, here are a few things I recommend: ✔️ Ask your existing clients if they have *more* work you can help with (or, better yet, pitch a relevant idea based on your past work together). You can get immediate work without having to go through all of those pesky onboarding steps. ✔️ Ask your existing clients for referrals. The people you work with are well-connected and usually more than happy to help their contacts skip the painful process of finding a freelancer themselves. ✔️ Connect with other freelancers with different skillsets and focus areas. You can refer work to each other (and commiserate when things get hard). ✔️ Get back in touch with people you used to work with who have since moved to new companies. They might need your services again, and you have the advantage of being a known quantity. Don't give up on cold emails entirely—they serve their purpose. But if you're feeling like you just need a gosh dang win (I feel you), the above tactics are way more likely to give you the boost you need. 😊