Illness comes upon us all on occasion. No matter how we eat or exercise or how many times a day we wash our hands, we get sick. But for freelancers, getting sick has an added bonus: no paid sick days.
Many freelancers will work on days they would take off if they worked in corporate jobs. Missed deadlines and unhappy clients are bad for business. Here are our tips for working when you’re under the weather, without missing part of your paycheck:
Don’t push yourself–Today is not the day to tackle a big project that isn’t urgent, even if you planned to. Your best work may be unattainable and you might end up having to do things over again later. Take it easy, slow and steady.
Let your clients know–If you get to the point where you really have to stop for the day and rest, communicate that. Most people are understanding–they’ve been there, too.
Keep it simple–Make a list of what really needs to be done today and another of what can be done tomorrow. Stick to today’s list.
Put it off–If there is flexibility about when your work gets done, put it off for a couple of days until you feel better. Working on Saturday may not be the most fun, but if it means you can take a nap on Thursday, that might be the best thing.
Do you work through illness or take time off? Let us know in the comments!
Wendy Stackhouse, Consultant for Artisan Creative