Almost all freelancers will agree that one of the best things about freelancing is taking time when needed. But when your business depends on you being behind the computer to run, time away may pose an issue. Whether your business writes for blogs, markets content, edits, etc., it can be scary to step away from work. For many freelancers, taking time off, means nothing is getting done resulting in no money coming in. So how can you prepare yourself for sick days? Here’s a guide on how to prepare your freelance business for illness.
1. Communicate quickly and effectively
If you are starting to feel sick or have an accident take a short moment to accept it, but you need to communicate this quickly and effectively with your clients. Some freelancers also need to head into an office or the workspace, and in some cases, it is in the office that causes a work injury.
No matter how the injury or the illness is happening, you must let your clients know so they can adjust their expectations or seek someone else to make it work. If you do have the space for outsourcing, and your client agrees – it may be possible to have your work handled by someone else and still have some control over it.
2. Have terms and conditions
Having some terms and conditions in place helps form expectations for future illnesses. If you are working with contracts and terms and conditions, you should ensure that there is a section covering illness and emergencies.
It’s important to include a provision for deadline extensions that are reasonable for most illnesses and emergencies. These protect both you and your client.
3. Seek advice
Your income might take a big hit when you are sick or have an injury, but you can protect it with the right insurance. Many freelancers skip out on having insurance, which is typically a mistake. Insurance is one of the safety nets that can ensure you have your money and the time and safety to recover.
In addition, it is a good idea to seek advice from an accountant to ensure that you have a small amount of cash put aside to help see you through more difficult times. Getting your personal finances in order will aid in saving money. Having this safety net will give you peace of mind as a freelance business.
4. Be guilt-free
Oftentimes a lot of guilt is attached to feeling ill and being unable to work, which is increased for freelancers who handle everything themselves. Unlearn the guilt attached to taking time out for things like mental health, illness, and injury.
In most cases, you will be back at work in just a few days, but if you feel guilty and try to keep working, you are likely to prolong your illness. Learn that it’s important to take care of yourself so you can get back to your freelance business as your best self.
Drop the guilt and put focus on getting better. Keep in mind that most clients would simply replace you for the time if they needed to. Health is more important than work.
5. Scale it
On a scale of 1-10, how much do you need the time off? As a freelancer, you can have as many days off as you need – but you need to ask yourself whether you need the time.
Sometimes you could work through the cold, and you’ll need to decide your limit. Don’t take advantage of your unlimited sick days – but don’t be shy to take them when you need them.
Get prepared
Having a freelance business is a great way to offer yourself flexibility. However, since time off work means a pause in money coming in, it can be hard to tear yourself away from your work for illness. It’s important to take steps now to feel at ease when these incidents do occur. Start by following the steps above to get your freelance business prepared.
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Alaine Meier is a blogger at LadyBossBlogger. She graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with a BA in Economics and a minor in Environmental Studies.
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