Just as I wrapped up one huge four-month travel writing project, another one kicked off the next day. It’s a good problem to have (and both of these came from one cold pitch I sent back in 2022) but it’s certainly been a busy few weeks!

I’m also working harder these next few weeks as I’m going on a press trip to Azerbaijan for a week at the end of the month. It’s somewhere I’ve never been before and it’s to review a hotel and a music festival so I’m quite excited!

A quick reminder that we’re now in the second week of my two month challenge inside my private Facebook community, Female Freelance Creatives. It’s called Freelancer Summer School and it’s eight weeks of refining your client base and marketing techniques while summer is a little quieter 🙂

For now: something that’s (hopefully) going to be relevant to all of you!

How to prepare for your summer break
This was a question asked by one of my Momentum members: how to schedule time off without feeling scared of dropping your entire client base and/or annoying your clients. Here’s a version of what I shared with her:

Decide what “off” actually means
Does time off mean zero inbox access? Just client-free workdays? Or half days with no calls? Be honest with yourself – there’s no one right way. What matters is that you define the boundary before someone else does.

Create a ‘Going Away’ doc
Make it easy for clients to work around you. A quick one-pager can include your away dates, the last day for submissions or calls, an emergency contact (or clear note that there isn’t one) and when you’ll be back and how to book in for then. Set the tone with clarity, not apology – you don’t need to apologise for taking a (well-earned) break!!

Use OOO as an opportunity
Your out-of-office message doesn’t just have to be a formality, you can also use it as a micro billboard. Use it to reinforce your authority and invite future work by saying something like “I’m currently enjoying the sunshine in Lisbon for two weeks. I’ll be back on [date] and taking new briefs from [date]. Want to work together? Pop your details here.”

Pre-schedule your visibility
Keep your name warm even while you’re offline. Batch and schedule a few posts, emails or portfolio updates in advance so you’re not forgotten mid-aperol. And no – it doesn’t have to be deep thought leadership. A “here’s what I’ve been working on lately” post still does the job, as does a case study of a cool project you worked on recently.

Remind yourself: rest is revenue
That phrase might give off The Apprentice vibes but it’s unfortunately true – if your brain’s running on fumes, you can’t deliver your best work – and you definitely can’t make clear business decisions. Taking real time off is part of being a sustainable, premium creative. Trust that your business will be better for it.