Some of you will remember Loverboy’s 1981 hit “Working for the Weekend” but does the idea expressed in the song actually have any meaning for freelancers? The dilemma new freelancers face as they become self-employed is whether to work on the weekend. Working as a freelancer may mean quitting the 9 to 5 routine to find more suitable times to work, but does it mean to become a robot who works holidays and weekends? What are the downfalls of working on the weekend and are there any real advantages?
The Need of a Day Off
I still remember how great it felt when I became a freelancer for good. I felt free, excited, the possibilities were endless. It didn’t take long for me to realise that freelancing is not easy, it is actually very hard. Perhaps one of the greatest reasons why it gets so hard so fast is due to the inability of many new freelancers to manage their time scrupulously. Before you know it you will be working weekends, public holidays and into the night.
If this is a reflection of your work as a freelancer, you seriously need to stop now and reassess your work-life. Everyone needs a day off and without one you will be lost for inspiration, hardly motivated and the future will have a bleak look to it. Start taking your weekend off and spend time relaxing, alone or with your loved ones.
Working on the Weekend
There can be advantages to working on the weekend, however, I would accordingly suggest that you take a day off during the week. Some freelancers find that they are more productive on certain days or at certain times. If this time happens to fall on the weekend, you should work on the weekend.
Of course the joys of taking a day off during a week day for me are that everything is less busy. For example, when shopping, there a smaller queues and generally with all other activities I do with my wife and daughter, there us more to enjoy on weekdays. This combined with the general of walking around feeling special and pompous because I can shop with the unemployed, the elderly, desperate housewives…okay, I admit there is nothing to feel special and pompous about!
The problem which I have found with working on the weekend is that if you are doing work for a client and need to revise it or speak to the client then you may not find them on the weekend. Other general communication problems can arise which will impede your work on the weekend. This is why it is probably a better idea to work when the rest of the world is working – the week.
To conclude
Working on the weekend can be drastic for your freelancing career if you are not taking days off. You can however rearrange days off such that you are taking time off and being as productive as possible. Use trial and error if you are unsure of working on the weekend because some people hate working Mondays, others hate working Fridays. Find out what works for you.
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April 28th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
I love working on the weekend, it really is my time to catch up and get project done.
April 29th, 2010 at 9:26 am
My personal rule is not to work on Sunday and I feel much more productive after that. I used to work all 7 days a week before but now, with that day off, I make more work in 6 days then in 7 before. :)
May 3rd, 2010 at 1:09 pm
I frequently work the weekends but my issue always arises when I re-arrange and take a day off during the week my boss will call on that day and need something “Desperately”. Then there goes my day off!
May 4th, 2010 at 2:46 am
Why wouldn’t one work on the weekend? The harder I work, the luckier I get.
June 2nd, 2010 at 8:27 pm
I frequently work the weekends but my issue always arises when I re-arrange and take a day off during the week my boss will call on that day and need something “Desperately”. Then there goes my day off!
+1
June 3rd, 2010 at 11:50 pm
My personal rule is not to work on Sunday and I feel much more productive after that. I used to work all 7 days a week before but now, with that day off, I make more work in 6 days then in 7 before. :)
October 14th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
I have only recently got a job. Doing deliveries for pizza hut. Personally working the weekends is the best time for me because thats when i get a lot of tips haha :). But, i know that the weekend is for the social people who have a social life haha. i guess it depends on if you either need the money or need the social life.
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November 18th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
I don’t think anyone wants to work on the weekends, but sometimes it may be necessary to meet deadlines.