Working as a freelance translator can mean long workdays and workweeks when business is good, and it’s often hard to turn down job offers in what can be a feast-or-famine business.
But – perhaps precisely because of the intense workload and its mental and physical toll – translators must take care to ensure they get the rest they deserve and which is so essential to maintaining the high-quality work that brings in new clients and keeps old ones satisfied.
While month-long holidays may not be realistic for most freelance translators, there are ways that they can get that well-deserved mental and physical break while keeping their clients happy.
Below are some things to keep in mind when planning your get-away.
Finances
The rates you charge for your work should take into account all the things that a salaried employee’s wages would ordinarily cover: living expenses, health care, retirement, time off work for illness and holidays, etc. By setting aside the amount allocated to vacation time every month, you won’t find yourself having to take on extra work before and/or after your holiday.
So, now that you can afford to take a few days off work, the next step is:
Communication
Most clients understand that translators are human beings who need a break now and then, so let them know well in advance (a couple of weeks, or even more if you’re working on a long-term project). This gives you time to work on two solutions to keeping your clients’ translation needs met: getting ahead on long-term projects, or finding someone you can either refer your client to as a temporary substitute or to whom you can send work that you will ultimately forward to your client. If you think the latter may be a good option, be sure to check with your client and get their approval for outsourcing. If the former option is feasible and you choose to do it, you’ll have to increase your production before your holiday, but you will have the satisfaction of keeping your client happy while bringing in some money ahead of time.
Accessibility
Even when you’ve made arrangements with your clients for getting translations while you’re on holiday, you’ll still probably want to check your email once or twice a day, just to keep an eye on things and make sure that any unexpected matters can be attended to before they become emergencies. Luckily, with Internet connections being practically ubiquitous, connecting with a smart phone or tablet and handling any issues takes just a moment, and can be done from nearly anywhere.
Enjoy
If you’ve made all the right arrangements, you should have no worries about taking full advantage of your hard-earned and well-deserved rest. Remember that a mental and physical break will recharge your energy and creativity, making you more productive than ever when you sit down and switch the computer back on.
