Dishing Up Some Freelance Advice: Take Time Out for Turkey

When I was managing an office staff a few years back, I never would have asked any of my employees to show up for work on a holiday—no matter how much work had to be done.

So why would I ask my current employee (me) to cram work into my already hectic Thanksgiving schedule today?

Granted, I could easily justify working after today’s festivities. I have an overabundance of work on my plate for the next two weeks—a book editing project, five stories, an online business publication to edit, and the list goes on. My work cup is overflowing. Of course I am very grateful for the work—especially in this economy. But my point is, it’s going to be really hectic around here for the next couple weeks.

I won’t lie. I was tempted to work today. But after writing about firing my inner evil boss the other day, I decided to do the uncomfortable thing and not pick up any work. If you’re thinking, Gee, well what about this blog post—doesn’t that count? Yes, it does. Which is why I actually wrote the post last night before starting the stuffing, whipping up the other holiday fixings, and thawing the cornish hens.

I’ll readily admit that not working on Thanksgiving is a switch for me. I have worked more holidays than I care to admit. In fact, I recall working on a book editing project last Thanksgiving. And back when I was still a poor newspaper reporter (and couldn’t afford a flight home), I often would volunteer to work in the newsroom on Thanksgiving. It was a way of keeping my mind off the fact that I couldn’t be with my family. My most memorable working Thanksgiving as a newspaper reporter happened when the excellent cooks at the Anniston Fire Department invited me over to the station for dinner one year. It was particularly memorable because there was a fire call in the middle of dinner, and a lot of turkey and stuffing got cold while the firemen hosed down a fire somewhere on the other side of town.

But I digress. Today, I no longer live 1,600 miles away from family. And if I’m running my freelance business right, there will always be work to do. But as my parents grow older, I realize more and more every day that there will come a time when they won’t be around. And the time I don’t spend with them today is time I’ll never be able to reclaim.

So just for today, I’m going to shelve my work projects, allow myself to have an extra helping of my mom’s pumpkin roll and pea-and-peanut salad, give my typing fingers and editing eyes a well-needed rest, and relish the time I have with my family.

I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday. And I also hope that you’ll follow my lead and give yourself some much-needed time off today.

I promise the work will be there tomorrow.

-Jenny

Photo source: riptheskull (Flickr)