You can get a bit nervous when things go quiet – because essentially you don’t know if it’s going to be a bit of flotsam or the tip of an iceberg. I tended to worry a lot (freelancing is easier for horizontal folk) and there were two side-effects from that: a) sometimes I got trigger happy, accepted short-term crap work and missed out on a nice (long) contract for which I could and should have waited a bit longer and b) I wished I’d done something useful with the downtime.

The sort of worry I felt back then can be mitigated if you’re a horizontal sort of person, you don’t have a big loan/mortgage and your missus brings home the bacon regularly!

Planning holidays in advance (just like being a permy) was also beneficial, otherwise life could feel a bit too random. That way, even when things were quiet, I still found that it felt “legit” to be doing admin (of which there was always plenty). I think I actually worked harder and besides being a freelancer still means you can have all the holiday you want ;-)

Very good idea to put something mentally stimulating on – especially something like The West Wing which is simply brilliant.

As Phil says, it really helps to actively relax and go out for a walk or sit down and put on a film. This works much better than just lazing around in your dressing gown all day!

I usually find I’m feeling guilty about those if I do have any free time. I was told to put “relax” as a recurring to-do! It replenishes energy and gives a sense of well-being because after all, we work to live and not the other way around.

My best escape on unexpected days off is a good DVD or book that makes me think. Some people find it suprising when I say to relax I try to read or watch a DVD that takes concentration but that just what I need, to be thinking of something else!

The Wire, The West Wing, State of Play (BBC) are my recommendations, they are over a lot of episodes but short enough to watch in bursts and are not something you can watch without paying attention or in other words drifting off thinking about work.

If I really can’t stop I will make a deal with myself to get one or two things done that have been niggling in the back of my mind and then go out and have fun or sit down and relax.

Not much chance of that for me at the moment but when I do get the chance I will be sure to make the most of some spare time. :)

Then again, I’m just a lazy student, what do I know lol.

Personally, if I’m not working I tend to get fidgety and think about work. Having said that, I do notice a renewed vigour after a full day or two off.