It is easy to assume that your workflow should remain constant across all twelve months of the year. But for freelancers, maintaining a steady state of creativity and output all year round may not be a realistic concept.
While a certain level of consistency and stability is necessary for paying the bills, should freelancers make the most of their own flexibility and adapt to a workflow that fluctuates across the year?
Work vs Seasons
I like to think I have a fairly steady personality, but despite this I much prefer March to October over the winter months. Before returning to work this week, I couldn’t help but feel affected by the wet, gloomy weather, late sunrises and early sunsets. I know that by spring I will have a far more positive outlook, owing to the spring flowers, birdsong, bluer skies and longer hours of daylight. I start to feel more energetic around this time, too.
With my mood lifted, I have greater drive and motivation for everything in life. It’s no coincidence that the summer months tend to be my busiest work period. Even if I am still at my desk at 6pm, in the summer there will still be plenty of time to walk the dog and eat dinner in the garden. In contrast, by 4pm in winter I am usually ready to hibernate.
Others may prefer to work longer hours in the winter when the lure of outdoor activities or leisurely evenings is absent. Putting in the hours during the darker months may allow you to take on fewer projects over the summer. Instead, you can enjoy a greater number of hours outside in the sunshine, as well as more time for holidays.
Seasonal Creativity
Working out how you feel during each season may help you to make the most of those months. If winter brings a serious feeling with it, you may be more inclined to take on heavier projects that you can get your teeth into. If spring is refreshing, you could push yourself out of your comfort zone to take on something new. Pay attention to the relationship between the seasons and your mood or emotions, and you may find you can use this to your creative advantage.
Schedule Breaks
Even if you are completely fired up by work during the summer, you will need to make sure you schedule time for a break. Working flat out for a full season puts you at risk of exhaustion or burnout, so even if you love what you are doing, remember to take your foot off the pedal for a few days. Visit friends, go for walks, or read that novel that’s been on your bedside table for months.
How to Work With the Seasons
To begin thinking about your personal workflow across a year, grab a notebook and explore your working year.
- Discover your personal relationship with the seasons. Write down how you feel about each season, your usual pattern of work during these months, and how creative you feel at this time.
- Think about your ideal hours. If you find it hard to work in the dark, you may want to plan for big surges of work during the spring and summer. However, if you’d rather be stuck at your desk when it’s dark outside anyway, schedule more working hours into winter.
- Consider seasonal success. If your creative juices are more likely to be flowing during warm sunny days, plan to get your teeth into a big project during summer. Planning intense projects when you feel at your most productive may help you to avoid overworking when your body and mind are not in the right place for it.
- Decide when you want to take breaks. For some, a holiday abroad in summer is essential. Others may prefer to go away during the quieter months. Although it makes sense to book holidays during your quieter work periods, make sure that when you plan periods of intense work, you also schedule time for breaks.
- Budget wisely. It’s all very well deciding that you want to adjust your working patterns to fit your relationship with the seasons, but just like a squirrel storing food away for winter, you will need to make sure you are financially secure during the months when your workload might be lighter. Budget carefully to ensure your overall earnings comfortably cover each month of the year.
Final Thoughts
Working as a freelancer puts you in the fortunate position of being able to control not only when you work, but what type of work you take on, and when. You may find your creativity changes with the seasons, and working with this feeling will be far easier than trying to paddle against it. Take time to reflect on how the seasons affect you, and whether you should consider adjusting your annual workflow accordingly.
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