How To Take Time Off as a Freelancer
Of course, the chaos that is Q4 is in full swing, but don't let that stop you from taking the time off you deserve!
It's the most wonderful time of year because you can actually relax and spend time with friends and family. But when you're a freelancer, this can look a little different. You don't exactly have those banked PTO days to fall back on, or 10 team members to cover your tasks.
Here’s how to take time off as a social media freelancer, and actually enjoy it.
How to Take Time Off as a Social Media Freelancer:
1. Plan Ahead
Before you officially log off, take a look at your current workload and client deliverables. Think about all the tasks you do weekly and decide which ones:
Can be done ahead of time
Can be paused
Can be scheduled automatically
Revamp your schedule the week leading up to and after your time off to fit in those must-do tasks.
2. Batch and Schedule Content
Batch create content to cover your time away. Focus on posts that don’t need manual tweaks, adds, or daily edits. Then use the in-app scheduler or your favorite scheduling tool (we LOVE Later!) to make sure everything goes out as planned.
Pro tip: Keep your captions evergreen and avoid references to current events while you’re out.
3. Set Boundaries and Expectations
Vacation boundaries are different for every freelancer. Decide what kind of time off you want:
Completely offline (set your OOO email, snooze notifications, and notify clients + followers)
Limited availability (set a timer for a few minutes a day to check DMs or emails, then log off)
Whichever you choose, communicate it clearly so clients don’t feel left in the dark.
4. Utilize Your Systems and Tools
This is where your systems shine! Make sure you’re using all the tools that save you time and stress:
CRM: Dubsado + Stripe for invoices, auto-pay, onboarding/offboarding, and reports
Scheduler: Metricool (for content posting)
Templates & automations: Anything that keeps client communication running smoothly
Remember: your systems exist so you can step away without everything falling apart.
5. Communicate Your Time Off
Yes, we said it before, but it’s worth repeating. Communicating your time off is just as important as taking it. Let clients know well in advance, include your return date in your OOO, and give them info on what to do if something urgent comes up. (Because let’s be honest, at least one client will forget.)
6. Stories, Engagement, and DM Management
This part depends on your clients and workload. You can:
Assign DM management to the client
Use automatic replies to redirect people to customer service
Check in briefly and use canned responses for FAQs
For engagement or story posting, you can either credit the client for that time, delegate it to a teammate, or plan static content that doesn’t require daily interaction.
Trust us, the work can wait. Enjoy your time off!