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70% of freelancers choose that life probably to have a little more independence and control over their lives and income. The downside is that since time is money, freelancers cannot grant themselves paid leave. If they take a leave, whether sick leave or vacation leave, they lose money.

On the other hand, freelancers have a fun option open to them: extended staycations. Instead of losing income on vacation, you can go for working less from a more comfortable space. How can you make this happen without dropping projects or clients? Let’s look at these useful tips for organizing a staycation as a freelancer.

Put Staycations In Your Budget

The wisest thing to do in advance of a staycation is to put it into your budget. In the same way you would put aside part of your income for utilities or transportation, put a little aside for traveling. You might want to go for a set amount every month, or put aside a percentage of your income whenever it arrives.

So that you are not shooting at a moving target, do your research in advance. Think about where you might want to take the staycation. Research ticket prices and the rates of places you want to stay. Be on the look for promos and sales. That way, even if what you put aside varies per month, at least you know what you’re aiming for.

Decide Your Availability In Advance

Are you going on a full hiatus? Part-time work with long breaks? Half-week workdays and long weekends? This is something better thought through way in advance rather than at the moment you see the hotel pillows or the surrounding beaches. You might be on staycation, but you still need your job when you come home.

The best way to approach this is to review in advance what the destination has for you to experience. Pick out those you really do not want to miss, and then schedule them. Reshuffle or offload your work week if you have to. Take leaves in advance and inform your clients about them. Ask if they need anything done urgently before your trip. The relationship and trust will be preserved until the next time.

Discuss Ongoing or Future Projects With Clients

Even if you warn new and current clients that you have a staycation coming up, they are likely to forget it as the project is ongoing. Make sure that you, if you can, discuss project timelines with clients at least a month in advance. Walk them through your availabilities, and be clear about your boundaries.

If there are any future projects or new clients you are currently onboarding, be just as clear with your availability as you are for current projects and clients. A client you have a good relationship with is a client who will come back. Clarity about your availability for projects will encourage new clients that they can trust that when you take on a project, you have made time for them.

Use Tools To Manage Clients While On Vacation

There are multiple tools you can use to maintain contact with clients, even asynchronously. You can create a public calendar with blocks where you are traveling or not working, including weekends or past a certain time at night. Encourage your clients to refer to it when they are wondering about updates to see if you indicated any non-working time blocks.

Your vacation email response is also your best friend. When someone emails you, it will automatically inform them that you have limited access to work but you will get back to them at a specific time or on a specific day. You can also direct them to your public calendar and possibly another freelancer who provides the same services if they need anything urgently.

Choose the Right Staycation Destination

If you are planning to stay a while and work in the meantime, make sure your destination has everything you need for that. You will probably need internet connection, enough sockets for your devices, and perhaps a desk so you can have some work-life balance on your staycation. (Working from your bed is the dream but not advisable for long periods of time.) Choose a non-tourist long-term destination space with the right homey vibes. Some examples might be mansion-style getaways like the Jasper Miami beach guesthouse, mountain lodges far away from the city, forest lodges with fresh air and shade, farmhouses under the open sky. As much as possible, it should be near enough to amenities that you’re not helpless in an emergency, but as visually different from your current workspace as you can make it.

By Anurag Rathod

Anurag Rathod is an Editor of Appclonescript.com, who is passionate for app-based startup solutions and on-demand business ideas. He believes in spreading tech trends. He is an avid reader and loves thinking out of the box to promote new technologies.