How I took a proper summer break as a freelancer

5 ideas for carving out a month of relaxation

Today is my first day ‘’back at work’’ after an entire month off. As a friend reminded me earlier, being able to do this ‘is kinda the whole point of being freelance!’ and yet this is the first summer that I feel I’ve planned and carried out a proper break (and I’ve been working for myself since 2013).

During this month I did no paid or voluntary work, no admin around my business, and even tried not to talk about my work too much! I had two gorgeous, relaxing trips to Europe (one for my Mum’s 70th and one for a friend’s 40th) where I swam, walked, sunbathed and ate good food. I felt my nervous system restore to normal for the first time in years. I chatted and was idle. I read. I wrote. I had fun making a lip sync music video. I sat around a fire pit with my extended family and sang songs. I played jazz with my friend’s parents in a French mill under a meteor shower.

This is the sort of summer I’ve wanted for ages but have never had. I’ve always been slightly plugged into a work project, had just one coaching call to do, one ukulele workshop to deliver, one more festival to run something at… I’ve often arrived at September needing a break already 😭.