How to politely ask a friend/client to stop talking about work during my leisure time?

[MrsBagshot]

I belong to a local hiking group. Someone in the group discovered that I work for myself as a freelance copywriter, and asked me to do some regular work for her. I like her very much, and I've enjoyed the work as well. There are no issues with working for her - she's actually a great client and easy to work with - but now, every time we hike in the group, she keeps asking me questions about my work (for her own personal interest), or outlining when the next job will be, or what the next job will entail.

Hiking is my down time - my leisure time - and a hobby. I don't want to discuss work in that environment. For one thing, I'm relaxed and I find it hard to think on my feet when she's peppering me with questions about word choices, style, grammar, etc., and I stumble over my answers because I'm not in 'work' mode, so I don't come across as authoritative about my subject as I'd like. The other issue is that I actually want to relax and enjoy my hobby, and not discuss work with a client in my own time.

Next time she does it, how can I politely tell her to stop discussing work with me while we're hiking?

Perhaps suggest she put her questions in an email so you can give them proper consideration before answering. Then quickly change the subject.

You could make a joke of it and tell her that if she's going to talk shop then you'll have to send her an invoice? Then remind her it's your leisure time and you'd like to keep it like that?

I'd probably say something like "Rachel, as much as I love my job, and enjoy the projects you give me, I need to maintain a work/life balance and give my brain a rest when I'm clocked off. Can we talk about something else?"

Or just change the subject to something else yourself at the end.

I think I'd just say something like - sorry my brain just isn't in gear right now, pop any thoughts into an email and we discuss this properly in the week?

Say to her email me on X day and we'll book some time in.
I don't like to talk work while I'm enjoying my hiking. I like to get out here to forget about work and enjoy the fresh air.

I like this response

“Sorry Rachel, I’ve trialling a new rule: no thinking about work in my leisure time! So, tell me your life story? Where are you from?”

Yeah, I agree with PPs: make a joke about 'no shop talk out of working hours'!

I work in IT and have developed a fairly brusque approach towards being asked about IT stuff (mostly about hardware, which I don't even really know anything about - I'm a systems manager) by friends and family in my downtime .

I'm happy to help within reason, but I'm not going to spend four hours of my time at a family event re-booting and upgrading your system (yes, it happened once, never again).

I like the joke about issuing an invoice.

These are great ideas - thanks everyone. I need to stop being such a wuss and just tell her don't I!!

I'm sorry, my work brain is currently at home recharging. Meet hiking brain!

Yep agree with everyone, just tell her politely. Maybe think of a few topics in advance so you can change the subject straight away without feeling awkward/your mind going blank.