Last Updated on by Michael Brockbank
As a freelance writer working from home, a lot of people don’t take into consideration just how important it is to take time off. Mostly because you’re paid for production, and not hourly. Still, it’s important to take vacations for several valid reasons.
And no, I’m not talking about “working vacations,” of which I’ve had plenty. I’m talking about really taking time off away from your computer and actually enjoying yourself.
Because even those who live the dream of working from home can benefit from a nice relaxing weekend away from it all.
Why Taking Vacations is Vital to Success
First of all, vacations are just fun to take. Well, for the most part, anyway. I’ve heard stories of people with nightmare holidays. But for the most part, they are meant to help you enjoy yourself.
But, there is more to it than just having a good time. Though, that is a prerequisite to much on this list. After all, it’s not going to be all that great of a vacation if you are having a horrible time.
Let’s dive into 8 reasons why you need a vacation even if you work from home.
1. Helps with Stress Management
The whole purpose of taking time off is to help with stress management. The less stress you feel, the more productive you’ll become. Everything from your emotional state to a lack of focus can result from being stressed out.
As a freelancer working from home, the last thing you want is to associate your house with a stressful environment.
Taking time off will help you deflate and manage troubling issues in your career. That is as long as you don’t take your work with you, which I know will be difficult to do.
2. Improves Real Relationships
Thanks to technology, more people are forming relationships online. However, there is something to be said about forging and growing relationships in the real world.
Social media, chat rooms, virtual meetups, and more can help you seem a bit more interactive. But, humans need that interpersonal interaction to live a healthier life.
Not to mention that if you go with family and friends, it’ll give you a chance to work on those relationships to create more solid bonds.
You can only do so much through a Slack chat.
3. Improves Your Overall Health
According to a study, frequent annual vacations reduced the risk of death for middle-aged men at a high risk of coronary heart disease. This means that taking time off can be greatly beneficial to your health.
Part of this could be from the sheer reduction of stress. Because stress levels can do a number of harmful things to your body.
Speaking from experience, I know I feel better both physically and mentally after having a weekend to myself, let alone an all-out vacation.
4. Gives a Fresh Perspective When You Return
Not every problem can be solved immediately. Some things take a bit of time to mull over while thinking of options. When you step away from some problems, you can gain a fresh perspective upon return.
I can’t count the number of times that I was able to solve some pretty major problems after coming back from vacations. Though, my time off usually only spans a weekend.
Still, even just a day or two away can alter your perception about an issue for the better.
5. Getting Away from the Home Office Rejuvenates Yourself
One of the biggest downfalls for many freelance writers is burnout. This is when you just can’t seem to put in the effort anymore to write any kind of content.
Going on vacations helps keep you rejuvenated and ready to keep going.
Speaking from experience, there have been many times when I was on the verge of giving up. But even taking a weekend camping trip, being away from all technology, helped me stay in the game.
And recently, when I was starting to feel the lowest I’ve felt in years, the thought of heading home to Utah for a weekend perked me right up.
6. Creates Enjoyable Memories
A lot of people have some incredible memories of vacations past. These are the kind of memories you just don’t create when sitting at home writing for a client or looking for new content to create.
These memories could be what inspire you to continue, bring a smile to your face, or give you something solid to hold onto for years to come.
For instance, several years ago, we had a camping trip where we watched a fox walk off with one of our pancakes several miles down the road. It’s a long tale but is one that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.
My point is that taking time off away from working at home is worth every memory you create. Because life is more than just memes you stumble across on Facebook or Twitter.
7. Can Be Inspirational for New Ideas
A lot of my best ideas came while I was enjoying myself in the woods or hanging out in Los Angeles. If I remember right, coming up with WriterSanctuary came to me after spending a weekend at my brother’s house.
Without distractions and diversions that take away from your focus, you can come up with some great ideas. And those ideas could lead to levels of success you never really thought of before.
Though, make sure you follow through with those ideas. It’s one thing to come up with something amazing, but you still need to put in the effort to make it come to life.
I’ve forgotten a lot of things that would have been great. I can’t remember what they were other than the feeling of how it would have been amazing.
This brings me to a prominent point: write them down while on vacation!
8. Improves Sleep and Sleep-related Issues
And finally, getting away from it all helps with sleep and sleep-related issues. The comfort of your lodging and reduction of stress can vastly improve sleep quality.
Case in point, I know I sleep much better while at a hotel during a vacation than I do at home. Especially if it’s a vacation where I don’t have to write a single line of content for anyone.
In fact, reaction time can also be increased thanks to a better night’s rest.
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Is It Easy for Freelancers to Take Non-Working Vacations?
For many freelance writers, we are paid for production. This means if we’re not creating content, we’re not getting paid. Though, a lot of us will have some contracts in place to offset this a bit.
But, if you’re starting out on a per-job basis, such as using content mills, then you need to keep working to bring in the cash. That’s because most freelance writers don’t get vacation pay or paid time off.
So, if you’re in that type of situation, how do you afford vacations?
Save to Accommodate Your Losses
First of all, make sure you save enough to accommodate any income you might lose.
For example, if I was writing for Textbroker, I’d take the average amount I bring in per day. Then, I’d multiply that amount by the number of days I plan on taking off.
This is how much I would need to sustain my income if I were to take a non-working vacation.
Not to mention how setting up a savings account may help you generate a bit of extra income due to interest rates. But, that really depends on how much you plan to save.
Save for the Actual Vacations
Secondly, you have to save for the leave itself. Just like you would if you were working a traditional job, set aside a savings account specifically for taking your time away.
And like using a savings account to accommodate your losses, your vacation account can generate interest. Especially if you start planning a year in advance.
Even Those Who Work From Home Need Vacations
Some people think that just because you work from home, you’re always on vacation. That’s not always the case. In fact, working from home can often be more stressful than a traditional job.
Everyone needs time off to recharge their batteries. And denying yourself some free time away from the workload may result in burning out relatively quickly.
Never underestimate the value of getting away from writing, even if it’s just for a few days.
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