It may be called Labor Day in the United States and Labour Day in Canada, but in many parts of world, today is just Monday. There are many reasons why you may choose to work (or not work) on this day, especially when you exercise the relative freedom of being a freelance writer, online entrepreneur, or some other occupation that is not bound to set working hours. It’s a very different experience than working for the man, where your boss can dictate exactly when you should be working. For freelancers, such restrictions do not necessarily exist.

Are you labouring on Labour Day? There are certainly both advantages and disadvantages to working on statutory (or federal) holidays. For starters, you know that the shopping malls and other major attractions are going to be absolutely packed with families trying to get in some last minute leisure time before the kids have to go back to school. They may go and visit the zoo, for instance.

If you choose to put in some hours today, you can avoid those crowds. There’s nothing wrong with working on a holiday, assuming that you will give yourself an “extra” day off somewhere along the line to make up for it. Going to the zoo or the mall on a regular weekday is much less stressful, because finding parking is easier and the crowds are much smaller. You get the same kind of leisure entertainment and relaxation without the frustration of human-fueled claustrophobia.

Given the international nature of the Internet, what may be a holiday for you could be just another Monday for one of your clients. As such, he may expect you to be just as available today as you would be on any other Monday. Such is the life of a freelancer with an international clientele. At the same time, you can prepare for the time off, just as you would for a longer vacation.

My plan for the rest of the day is to take a relaxed approach and get a little work done. I won’t be putting in as many hours as I regularly do on a Monday, but I’ve got certain responsibilities to fulfill. Otherwise, the bills may go unpaid… and that’s not a good thing.