6 ways to navigate the holiday period as a freelancer
Chapters
The end of the year can feel strange when you work for yourself – clients go quiet, routines disappear and money takes longer to land. But the lull can also be useful. It’s a chance to take stock, reconnect with people who get it and reset your creative energy before January hits. Here are a few ways to make the most of the holiday period, without slipping into panic mode.
1. Take note of your achievements from the year
The end of the year is the perfect time to reflect on your creative year and celebrate the wins, big or small. What’s your proudest achievement from 2025? Did you hit any milestones? Write them down and look at how far you’ve come.
Try jotting down three prompts: What project taught you the most? Which skill did you develop without noticing? Who did you connect with that you didn’t know this time last year?
Without colleagues, it's easy to forget to take note of these things. You might also consider doing one final creative post on socials for 2025, such as a year’s round-up of your creative work. Go out with a bang – you’ll likely stick in people’s minds, ready for 2026.
“Take matters into your own hands – gather a motley crew of freelancers and put in a date for a get-together.”
2. No colleagues, no stress – throw your own Christmas party!
The loneliness of freelance life can feel heavier at times like Christmas, when there’s no office party or Secret Santa to punctuate the year’s end. Take matters into your own hands – gather a motley crew of freelancers (IRL or online creative friends are fine) and put in a date for a get-together. It might be the perfect way to take that random graphic design group chat you’re a part of into the wild and build some new connections in the process.
If organising feels daunting, keep it simple: choose a date, pick a pub or café that won’t be heaving, and send a short message to anyone you’ve collaborated with this year. Even five people turning up can create the end-of-year energy you’ve been missing.
Freelancers during a public programmes workshop at The Photography Foundation
3. Iron out your finances
As offices prepare to close up and down the country, it’s important that you ensure your finances are in order. Take stock of what you’ve still got coming in over the holidays, chase unpaid invoices and send out any last invoices. It’s also worth checking when your clients' finance teams shut down for the break – some stop processing payments earlier than expected. Set reminders to follow up in January so invoices don’t slip. If you need to pick up some extra shifts at your part-time job to tide you over, it’s likely you’ll be needed. Lastly, consider getting your tax return out of the way.
While it feels sacrilegious to use tax return and Christmas in the same sentence, you might just thank yourself in January for leaving that tiresome task in 2025. Even doing the first 20% – gathering receipts, logging expenses or checking earnings – can make January far less stressful.
“Set your out-of-office and if clients message during your time off, don’t feel pressured to reply instantly!”
4. Wrap things up for the year
Whether they’re celebrating the holiday or not, it’s unlikely that many of your clients (potential or otherwise) are going to be working over Christmas week. Make the most of this widespread out-of-office period and take some time out from client work. It’s up to you how long this period is, but make sure to let your clients know your days off and set your out-of-office accordingly. If clients message during your time off, don’t feel pressured to reply instantly – most people expect slower responses over the break. A simple acknowledgement in January is usually fine. You can deal with the rest when you’re back online.
5. Work on a passion project
Things might have already slowed down for you work-wise as Christmas approaches, and while it can be hard not to panic in lull periods, it's a normal part of the freelance rollercoaster. Your efforts might be best focused on a passion project in seasonal dips like this, where replies are few and far between. Is there some idea you’ve been meaning to get started on all year round? There’s no time like the present! Plus, it's a great way to rekindle your creative passions, especially if you’ve been burning the candle at both ends on client work.
And if a big project feels too much, try a low-lift version: a one-day experiment, a small illustration, a mini case study, or drafting the first paragraph of something you’ve put off. Momentum matters more than scale.
6. Enjoy some R&R time
Everyone with holiday leave and bank holidays off gets time to rest at this time of year, and you should too! Take some time off to completely unwind from your practice, seeing friends and family and getting out and about. Don’t underestimate the importance of R&R. Let yourself recharge so you can step into 2026 restored and ready for whatever’s next.
Freelance slow seasons can feel unsettling, but they’re completely normal. Use the quiet to regroup, reconnect with people who get it and check in with what you want from the coming year. If you want more support, explore our resources below – January comes quickly, and you deserve to head into it with clarity, not burnout.