We've all heard of work/life balance. Many freelancers try to implement this balance into our…
7 Reasons to Take Time Off from Your Freelance Work
World of Freelancers contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Hopefully you love what you do for a living. Most freelancers do.
Loving your job, especially when you work for yourself from home, can make it difficult to get away from your computer and take time off, though. After all, when you love what you do every day, why should you stop?
You should stop because a lot of things in life are more important than work. While it’s wonderful to have a freelance career you enjoy, it’s even more wonderful to let yourself enjoy the whole lifestyle that freelancing can give you.
It’s so easy to lose sight of the fact that we need to set aside our freelance work sometimes and just enjoy our freelance lifestyle. That’s why I’ve written up a few reasons why it’s important to take time off from work in order to live your best freelance life.
1. Life is short, and life is important
You need to take time to relax and get away from your computer. Spend time with your friends and family. Travel if you want. Just enjoy life. Your life is far too important to spend all of it working.
2. Taking time off is good for your physical health
In a review of several studies on job burnout, the National Institutes of Health found that overworking can cause hypercholesterolemia, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, respiratory problems, severe injuries and even mortality below the age of 45 years. Taking time off from your work will help you be healthy now and keep your health on into the future.
3. Taking time off is good for your mental health
No matter how much you love your freelance career, you could definitely completely burn out mentally and emotionally if you don’t take a breather. Take a minimum of one full day off a week plus at least a few days off every once in a while so you can relax and recharge yourself.
4. Not everyone has the privilege of a freelance lifestyle
One of the many great benefits of freelancing is the lifestyle of freedom it gives you. Not everyone in the world is privileged enough to have this. Be sure to take full advantage of that freedom and enjoy the freelance lifestyle to the fullest.
5. You’ll have better relationships
When you work too much, your relationships with your family and friends can really suffer. Putting your loved ones ahead of your work by taking time off to spend with them will help you enjoy life more now as well as create memories for the future.
6. Your life will be more interesting
Your freelance career may be really interesting, but there’s more to life than that. Engaging in hobbies, taking vacations, traveling, going places with friends and doing other activities makes life a lot more interesting and a lot more fun.
7. You’ll be able to work more effectively
Taking breaks from your freelance work actually can help you do a better job and get more work done. You’ll arrive back at your desk refreshed and relaxed, able to concentrate better and be more productive.
Conclusion to 7 Reasons to Take Time Off from Your Freelance Work
Working in a career you love is one of the many reasons people decide to start freelancing. Just be sure to take time off from work so you don’t miss out on all the things in life that are more important than work.
Want to get more advice about freelance life? Sign up for my free email course here.
…
Images by Pexels and Free-Photos
Sabina Lohr is a lifelong freelancer turned entrepreneur who created World of Freelancers to help others discover how to work for themselves online and live the freelance lifestyle. She’s always really enjoyed the freedom that freelancing brings, including several years on and off of working online while traveling and living abroad.
Share this:
Related Posts
This is so important. Freelancers can easily blur the lines between personal and professional life. Leaving the 9-5 behind is wonderful, but it does require discipline. And I’m not just referring to working tons of hours and focusing on your business. It requires discipline to create work-life balance. Failing to do so can cause relationships to suffer and lead to burnout. These are 7 excellent tips that all freelancers should follow. Great article!
Thanks a lot, Anthony! Definitely freelancers, understandably, can and do easily blur the lines between work and personal life. Work-life balance is so important, not only for freelancers, but for everyone. I’m still working on achieving it myself. 🙂
A lot also depends on how you use the time off. Most freelancers work computer jobs (photographers, gardeners and a few other excepted). They sit, sit, sit. Even with a sit-stand desk, they don’t move around much.
Time off is a chance to do something physical. It might be running a marathon, or it might be leisurely walks along a beach. Doing something physical amid a life of string at a screen is good for both the body and the mind.