I’ve been so sick for the past week that if I was still working at the law office, I’d have been cashing in on some of that fabulous paid time off. Here at the home office, I’ve been trying to plug on. However, that great cliche of “business as usual” would be an understatement.
I’ve been super slow on one ongoing project (for which I’m hoping to make up time this weekend), and I’ve been writing blog posts a day ahead of time for another client (just in case). All personal projects (such as this blog) have gone by the wayside. I’ve been reading a few of my favorite blogs from my iphone while I’m lounging around in too much pain to work but too wired up to sleep.
As I’ve been in bed forcing myself to rest, I’ve been wondering how other freelancers handle things when they’re sick.
Do you outsource your work? Contact clients and ask for extensions on deadlines? Just try to keep going, even if your work product isn’t up to par?
What about those of you who have regular clients you work for on a daily basis? If you’re a blogger, for example, and you’re writing five posts a day for a client, how do you manage that sort of thing when you’re sick? Ask for time off? Write as many posts as you can in between trips to the toilet?
I’m seriously curious. How do you all handle freelancing through illness?
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Well, I actually have chronic migraines. It prevents me from being a good employee at a regular 9-5 job because I’d be out sick so much. Self employment is better because, if I get a migraine, I can just postpone my work a little bit. It’s not great, but better than getting fired because of poor attendance.
I hope you feel better. My daughter was sick for a day. I didn’t feel great the following day so I took the day off. I let my clients know what was going on. They like my work and didn’t have a problem with it.
The past few days I took time off of my regular projects to focus on completing my paper. I let my clients know their projects would be done at the end of this week. My deadline is still ahead of theirs. They love the fact that I always communicate with them.
I’ll start writing blog posts with two jobs within the next week. I’m planning on doing advanced posting on a few jobs in case something unexpected occurs.
Try to get plenty of rest. I hope you are feeling better soon.
Gosh, Amy, I so hope you’re feeling better soon. But didn’t you know that once you became a freelancer you were no longer allowed to get sick? LOL It’s a rough situation, but I think most of your clients would be understanding if you explained…especially those you’ve worked with for a while who already know you’re reliable. Take as much time off as you can. After all, you’re not going to be of much use to them if you don’t get better.
I hope you’re feeling much better today, Amy…or at least headed in the right direction. Have a big cup of hot tea on me.
I’m lucky. I’ve been sick only once in the last three years, so this answer is pure theory based on what I have in my business plan. (Yes, I’m that nit-picky.)
For ordinary sickness, it’s pretty much business as usual. I have a regular client for whom I am usually at least two days ahead, so I wouldn’t worry about him at all. In most other cases, I would do just enough work to make sure I don’t miss deadlines.
If I know I’m going to be out longer (maternity leave, surgery, etc.), I would outsource the long-term work and just not pursue any new projects until closer to the time of my return.
At least, that’s the theory. Honestly, I can see myself feeling guilty about it the whole time and secretly working late at night, making excuses like, “Oh, I just need to check ONE thing….”
Amy,
I was sick earlier this week, too! And actually, I think both you and I have been sick a couple of times so far this winter.
I don’t have many clients that have daily deadlines, so I’ve been lucky so far about not having regular blog work or anything like that to do when I’m sick. That may change, as I just picked up some extra blogging work, and may be getting a regular weekly column as well.
This week I did have one actual deadline, for which I requested an extension. Overall, I did get behind on my work, but most of it wasn’t on a strict timetable, so it wasn’t a problem.
Annalisa has the right idea. I ran into this dilemma last year where I crashed snowboarding and had a concussion and whiplash which put me down and out for about 2 weeks. (yes I was wearing a helmet)
I decided giving up snowboarding or any other joy wasn’t going to happen so I made friends with other writers/copywriters and when things come up, projects are outsourced.
In fact, it works so well that sometimes when I just get too busy I outsource some jobs. The trick here is that your client has to be comfy with you outsourcing the work. I reassure them that all content will go through me before it gets to them so they know they’re getting what they need and for the most part, clients are just happy to have a consistent provider they trust.
Hope you feel better soon!
I hope you’re feeling better soon, Amy. I wish I could come bring you some soup!!
Amy,I truely hope that you feel better soon.as far as advice on how to do blogging when you’re sick,I have none,since I’m way too new at this.Besides I my blogging as a way to keep my self busy since I cannot work like I used to,as a realestate agent.My seizures have put a real damper on any activity.
P.S. hope the bunnies are doing Ok.
Leave a Comment