Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 11.6; Flight Crew Total 1230; Flight Crew Type 707
Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
After departing ZZZ for ZZZ1 on an IFR flight plan; at about 500 feet AGL and 2 miles from the airport I switched frequency from ZZZ Tower to ZZZ2 Center before being asked to switch frequency by the tower. I have not flown IFR for more than one year due to COVID. I recently completed a Flight Review and Instrument Proficiency Check; but this was only the second IFR cross-country flight since then (the first was from ZZZ1 to ZZZ a few days earlier); and the first departing from a towered field. This led to my improper ATC communication procedure.
Single Private Pilot reported; after a year away from flying due to COVID-19; not following proper IFR communication procedures after departure.