????在當今經濟形勢下，有所發展的工作門類并不多，但有一種工作類型除外——越來越多的人稱自己為“自由人”。根據臨時員工代理機構凱利服務公司（Kelly Services）提供的數據，超過40%的職場人士自稱為“自由人”，認為自己長期獨立于任何雇主，而2008年該數據為26%。這類人在不同的公司之間快速切換，通常大部分時候都是在為自己打工。

????誠然，自己當老板有很多優勢。但是否也有缺憾呢？每年假期前后，企業家們都會感到（根據具體情況，這種感受也可能會反復出現），休假一兩周已經變成了一件很困難的事，更別提更長時間的休假了，比如產假或者公休假。

????很多公司利用帶薪休假作為招聘的誘餌。但德克薩斯州普萊桑頓一位獨立心理專家詹姆斯?薩頓表示:“自己當老板的人會為他們所謂的度假‘樂趣’付出雙重代價，即休假的成本以及因休假損失的收入。”

????全年無休聽起來不錯，但往往可能導致效率低下。薩頓稱：“有些最好的想法和營銷點子都是在我休養生息和‘無所事事’的時候冒出來的。”其他很多自由職業人士也深有同感。下面是一些企業主的經驗之談。

盡早規劃，越早越好

????2011年底的時候就制定出明年的旅行方案。至少提前數月確定休假時間，這樣就能在客戶服務規劃中留出空擋，，同時相應規劃好產品供應。蒂姆?帕金是帕金網絡開發公司（Parkin Web Development）總裁，該公司位于佛羅里達州奧蘭多。他說：“如果拖到最后時刻才決定去哪里旅行，你就沒辦法做好充分準備并知會客戶。這對雙方都不公平?！?/p>

????提前規劃還能讓你對度假前后的工作事項進行計劃，并據此安排員工的日程表。帕金表示，如果客戶知道你的假期計劃，他們“可能會立即詢問（‘你能否在休假之前做到某某事’），所以我們最好盡量提前通知客戶?！?/p>

掌握規律，避開高峰

????如果經營零售業，最好打消在圣誕節前就開始休假的念頭。馬克?阿賽爾斯汀與其連襟合伙經營一家名為“開啟冒險之旅”（Uncorked Ventures）的紅酒俱樂部。他說：“我們50%的銷量往往都來自感恩節到圣誕節之間這段時間?！?010年是他們開業的第一年?！拔覀儧]有做好規劃，結果很糟。坦白地說，我們在探親和準時發貨這兩方面都沒做好?！?/p>

????今年，在圣誕節假期開始時，阿塞爾斯汀和連襟將缺席家庭聚會。不過，他倆會在12月23日晚上開始休假。因為到了這個時間點，趕在25日之前給客戶發送紅酒已經來不及，而一月份并非紅酒消費旺季，所以他們不需要急著趕回工作崗位。

????Not many job categories are growing in today's economy, but here's one that is: the number of workers calling themselves "free agents." According to temp staffing agency Kelly Services, more than four in 10 workers call themselves "free agents," feeling unattached, long term, to any employer. This is up from 26% in 2008. People flit between organizations and -- often -- spend significant time working for themselves.

????There are many upsides to calling yourself boss. The downside? Every year, around the holidays, entrepreneurs learn (and relearn, as the case may be) that it's tough to take even a week or two off, let alone a longer absence, like a maternity leave or sabbatical.

????While corporations dangle paid vacation as a perk, as James Sutton, a self-employed psychologist in Pleasanton, Texas puts it, "the self-employed person pays for their 'fun' twice: the cost of the time off, and the revenue lost from not working."

????It's tempting to just keep grinding away. But that's counter-productive. Sutton claims that "some of my best ideas and marketing approaches came when my mind was refreshed and 'idle,'" and many other free agents report the same thing. Here are a few strategies for taking time off from business owners who've done it:

Plan ahead. Way ahead.

????Figure out your 2012 travel plans by the end of 2011. Knowing your vacation times at least a few months in advance lets you build that lack of availability into your client proposals and plan your pipeline accordingly. Says Tim Parkin, president of Parkin Web Development in Orlando, Florida, "last minute trips make it difficult to adequately prepare and give notice to your clients. It's unfair to both parties."

????Knowing your schedule ahead of time also lets you plan for some long days before and after, and arrange employee schedules with that in mind. Parkin notes that clients who learn of your vacation plans "might have immediate requests ('Can you do XYZ before you leave?'), which is why more notice is better."

Watch your business cycle.

????If you run a retail business, forget about starting Christmas vacation before Christmas. Mark Aselstine, who co-owns a wine club called Uncorked Ventures with his brother-in-law, notes that "50% of our sales typically occur between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day." 2010 was their first in business, "and we didn't have a real plan and ended up, frankly, not doing a good job seeing family, or getting customer orders delivered in a timely manner."

????This year, the rest of the family will start Christmas without them, and Aselstine and his brother-in-law will take off on the night of the 23rd. At that point, it's too late to get wine delivered before the 25th, and with January being a slow month for wine, they won't have to hurry back.