Holy crap - It’s the last week of June?!

One of my favorite Twitter accounts to follow is a bot account called “Year Progress”.

It’s a funny little automated account that occasionally offers a dose of reality with a running update of how much year has passed and how much is left.

It’s unreal that we are already halfway through 2023. I’m not even going to risk opening my “Career Goals” Google doc to see just how far off I am from my original plan for the year!

As usual, I guess I’ll have to make peace with the fact that time keeps marching on, and there is no stopping it (however much I might want to).

In the meantime, let’s enjoy these last few days of June before the summer really kicks into full gear. Got those invoices sent out yet?

In Today’s Edition

• The Art of Unplugging: I just got back from a vacation to the beautiful Missouri Ozarks, and it got me thinking about vacationing as a freelancer.

• Tweets Of The Week: A few tweets that caught my eye, made me laugh, or made me think!

• Some end-of-month reminders: It’s time to get paid (and make sure you get paid next month!)

The Art of Unplugging: A Freelancer's Guide to Vacationing Well

I recently exchanged the sound of my clacking keyboard for the sounds of the Missouri Ozarks with a family trip down south.

It was a delightful (albeit anxiety-tinged) affair — what we in the freelance universe affectionately call a "prolonged week of mild anxiety."

But I am here to tell you that taking time off is absolutely essential. The body, mind, and soul keep the score - and you need to take regular breaks if you want to stay in the game.

This week, I’m reflecting on a few thoughts that bubbled up to the surface after a weekend away from the computer:

Pause. You aren't a perpetual freelance machine!

Even the most committed among us, the ones forever pledging their souls to the hustle, need a break. 

If you don't proactively pencil in some downtime, your body and mind will eventually do it for you — and trust me, burnout, breakdown, and sickness aren't quite as appealing.

So, make a plan to take a break. It's not just nice; it's necessary.

Work CAN (and will) wait.

I hear you. There are moments when the thought of stepping away from your work can induce a cold sweat.

Deadlines, sudden projects and revisions, the dread of a “client moving on” - the freelance life is unpredictable. But more often than not, your work can wait.

The secret sauce here? Clear communication!

Let your clients know when you plan to switch off and recharge. Trust me, 9.99 /10 they'll completely understand.

You-time is the best time.

For those of us with little ones, vacation can often translate to chasing kids around, limited sleep, and a diet that leans heavily towards the delicious but unhealthy.

Not exactly a spa-and-meditation retreat.

However, it's vital to carve out moments for self-reflection and future planning. Even in the whirlwind, find your calm. Write down your thoughts, look back at your goals, and take time to put your brain on paper.

Remember the life outside your work bubble.

As freelancers, our earnings are directly proportional to our efforts.

But pause, breathe, and remember why you embarked on this journey — the freedom to travel, to have fun, to live life on your terms.

Don't let the lure of endless work make you forget the beauty of flexibility.

Embrace your return with lessons learned.

Coming back to reality can feel like a nosedive, but hold on to the reasons why you took the break in the first place.

Find new strategies to maintain balance and peace.

This isn't to say you'll never need another vacation, but rather to ensure that you can make the most out of the one you take. You’ll thank yourself later.

Documenting your thoughts and feelings can help keep you grounded and present, allowing you to make the most of your time away from work.

The world won't stop spinning, and your work won't disappear.

Have you ever had that niggling fear that if you take your eye off the ball, everything will unravel? Me too!

But remember all the times when clients were slow to respond because they were on vacation? Yeah, even those nagging clients are probably taking vacations this summer.

Communicate your plans, and trust that your work will be waiting for you - right where you left it.

So, my freelance friends, as we continue to navigate this unpredictable but exciting freelance landscape, let's remember to prioritize our well-being because, at the end of the day, we're human, not machines.

Sometimes, we just need to unplug. 🤖

Freelance Gems From The Bird App

A weekly roundup of my favorite tweets from friends (and maybe some foes.)

Seriously. Whether it’s a platform or a client cold pitch, don’t just create, copy, and paste - put some thought into it! It’s obvious when it’s fake.

My buddy Ben over at Contra recently announced a new partnership with Framer. Super exciting stuff if you’re a Framer developer (and it shows just how much it pays to be part of a highly-engaged freelance community!)

Seriously! When you get these, save them somewhere safe, because you’ll want to go back and look at them in the hard times!!

Yes. Yes. Yes. YES!

Diana has an amazing point here - are you negotiating effectively? Even when you hit a home run, the client is likely expecting that success. So know your worth!

Tuesday’s Coming

It’s Monday of the last week of June - which means this week marks the moment when you need to:

1. Check on those invoices: Say it with me, “I 👏 will 👏 get 👏 paid 👏.” If you haven’t already, send out your July work invoices, follow up on June, and get that monayyyy.

2. Follow up with past clients: The end of the month is always a great time to follow up with old clients who may have gone dark. Seriously, they often just forget to follow up with you for contract work - make their jobs easier!

3. Celebrate your wins: What have you achieved in June? What milestones did you hit? Take a moment to celebrate because those wins will fuel your success - and don’t forget to share them with your freelance community!

You’ve got this. Let’s end June 2023 on a high note!

Until next Monday, may your coffee be strong - and your deadlines be few.