Whoops! It’s suddenly summer in earnest.
Last we looked, summer was just toeing the water, fishing a long-lost floatie from the shallow end. Then bam! Next thing you know, there’s the fireworked fourth of July, cannonballing smack into the sunscreen slick of the deep end.
No matter.
Summer has arrived — however that happened — and brought with it a beach bag full of sage, old-timey advice just for you, dear freelancer.
But forget all that. The summer is no place for no-nos and tales of caution. Here, rather, are 6 research-backed revisions of outdated advice to keep you productive and loving life all precious summer long.
1. Resist the urge to go outside > Get your a$$ outside.
Everything is better outside. Sure, the colors are brighter and the air is fresher, but the benefits don’t stop there. Your stress levels plummet while memory and attention span improve. A little sunshine can do wonders for your outlook on the task at hand.
2. Don’t get crazy with that vacation > Vacation it up.
There’s been a lot of talk lately about vacation phobia, vacation deprivation, and the this no-vacation nation of ours. Since we don’t get a whole lot of vacation time to begin with, we’d better take full advantage of the days off we do get. It’s a matter of life and death.
3. Keep your eyes on the prize > Take time to explore.
The two holy grails of freelancing — supercharging creativity and getting stuff done — don’t have to be at odds. The Maker movement’s tinker-to-learn philosophy, kid-focused as it is, applies to us all. Even if you uncover just one or two crazy-useful apps (try Podio.com for teamwork or PandaDoc.com for contracts), that’s open-ended time well spent.
4. Budget, budget, budget > A little splurge never hurt.
When did summer become a bad guy in the spending saga of our lives? Maybe it’s your post-polar vortex revelry or elaborate vacation plans. But don’t worry too much about breaking the bank — just loop in some anticipation time, story-worthy experiences, and generosity to make the most of your summer spending.
5. Cap your social calendar > Socialize erryday.
Seems like you can’t click a link around here without running headfirst into regular schedule advice. And summer is an endless source of temptation to stray from your tried and true work hours. But the solution isn’t to block out plans with friends, but rather to make social engagements a part of your daily routine. So go ahead and shake those sillies out, meeting new people and broadening your horizons all the while.
6. Work on your business > Work on yourself.
There’s no better omen for your career than when the lines between work and play begin to blur. So, absolutely, parlay that momentum into more and more success. Savor the signs that you’re doing what you’re meant to. But don’t lose sight of the other side of the coin; taking care of yourself is taking care of business too 🙂
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Author: Christy Delehanty
Creative writer and content marketer for Quote Roller and PandaDoc. Loves language flexibility and style guides with equal abandon. Walks SF, shops Goodwill, eats everything.
I think you're right – we can get so up tight about doing all the right stuff we can end up just being stuck on the treadmill. To be our best we need to take time out, have fun and let go. I'm going to be kicking back this summer, taking a big break from the office to catch up on the rest of life!