This past week, I spent a lot of time practicing working from the road, which, will come in handy next week when I am away and need to get some work done for my clients. One morning, I took my laptop to the barn and waited for the vet to examine the horse I ride. Fortunately, the tack room at the barn is also a lounge and has a couch, large table, fireplace, and a huge window that overlooks the riding ring. It’s the perfect spot to get some work done. As I waited for the vet to arrive and finish her exam, I grabbed my laptop and started responding to client emails. Then, later in the week, one of my clients and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful fall day and head to the beach for our monthly meeting. It was an ideal setting, and we got a lot accomplished. But the thing about working for yourself is that you can’t always take a break from your business. And, as I prepare to be away for a few weeks, I needed a system that would allow me to enjoy my time abroad, and also check in with my clients and manage my workload.
While I’ve tried to do as much work ahead of time as I can, the nature of client work is that it’s unpredictable and things come up. Emails will arrive in your inbox that need an urgent response, clients have questions, and people will call you directly (especially when you work in public relations). One thing I always do in advance of heading out of town for an extended period is meet with my clients and let them know how and when they can reach me. I plan to check my emails as I do when I’m at home, but given the time difference, I will be shifting my hours to later in the day to accommodate East Coast times and be able to respond to things during the work day. I did this the last time I went to Europe in the fall, and I felt much more efficient having my morning to myself, enjoying a leisurely lunch, taking a walk or sightseeing, and then starting my work day in the late afternoon.
Since there are only a few days left before I depart, I am feeling the pressure to tie up as many loose ends as I can. But I know that whatever I can do this week will take some pressure off of me while I am away and help me decompress and enjoy my trip. I’m grateful that I have a roster of clients who understand my commitments and respect my boundaries, and it makes navigating my own business and having a life that much easier. So, if you’re new to freelancing and working with clients, remember that it is important to build your business around your life and to work with clients who make it possible for you to do both.
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