How to Take Time Off From Your Business and Actually Relax
There comes a point in every small business owner’s life when they need to trade out their “resting bitch face” for their “resting beach face.”
You can’t sustain ALL there is to do as an entrepreneur and maintain your productivity…
…let alone your pleasant, roll-with-the-punches demeanor without some time off.
But the typical business owner mindset screams that taking a completely relaxing, 100% work-free vacation can’t be done!
Or if by some miracle you do manage that kind of relaxation, you’ll pay for it dearly when you get back.
But I’m here to melt that mindset like the summer rays on your sunscreen ladened body.
The thought of relaxing makes us tense?!
If you find yourself saying things like, “There’s too much to do,” “I’ll come back to a mountain of work,” or “They can’t function without me,” you’re not alone.
I’ve heard it over and over again as a productivity and time management expert. And it’s been born out in numerous studies. The recent study from Ondeck showed that:
Only half of small business owners take vacations.
When they do, they’re short, lasting about 5 days.
Very few disconnect entirely.
Most business owners don’t take any vacations in the first 10 years.
Why is that?
Yes, it’s true that the work still needs to be done. Yes, you may have to front-load your work. Yes, there may be a few hiccups.
But in my experience there’s a more insidious reason why business owners don’t take time off:
They equate being busy to being productive and derive a sense of importance from always having so much to do and being so needed at work.
Be careful not to make this mistake. Being busy can become a crutch and a quick excuse.
This constant state of stress actually makes you LESS productive. The body and mind were built to work for only so long before needing to take a break.
Taking time off is essential to being your most productive self, in business and in life. Your brain needs a break from the go-go-go or else productivity begins to suffer, along with your quality of life.
All work and no play…
…makes business owners very unhappy people.
There are many consequences to skimping on time off including burn out, reduced productivity, health issues, both mental and physical, and relationship issues from demonstrating that work is your priority.
Shift happens.
The first step in being about to take relaxed, unplugged time away is shifting your mindset away from the busyness and “I’m indispensable” attitude.
Remember that:
Taking time off signals that you put a priority on your health and your effectiveness.
Your actions tell not only employees or coworkers, but your family and friends as well. Lead by example so those around you see that taking time off is good for you and your business.
You’ll come back with a fresh perspectives on priorities. It’s easy to get caught up in the details of every little thing going on at work when you are in the day-to-day grind. Taking a break makes those little things much lower on the to-do list (if they stay on the list at all!)
Business Owners or Leaders who take time off get a priceless benefit: business continuity. Your team or direct reports gain real-world experience in handling situations and tasks that YOU typically handle. Your team will grow while you are out from the trust and confidence you’ve shown them.
Setting Up Your Worry-Free, Unplugged Time Off
Don’t wait until you can no longer take what you’ve been taking! Follow these 10 steps now to set yourself up for vacay success.
Make the decision to take time off. This is a very important first step! Can’t imagine checking out for more than a few days? That’s okay. Baby-step your way to a long vacation by planning a weekend getaway.
Tell people you are taking time off every chance you get. The leader in your one-on-ones, your colleagues on a big project, your store manager, and anyone else who may need to chip in to do your work while you are away need to hear this more than once.
Plan ahead. The more time you have to prepare yourself, your customers, and your employees for your absence, the better. Talk to your colleagues ahead of time if you plan on listing them as your back-up while you are out.
Put your vacation on your work calendar. Schedule your out-of-office vacation days as all-day appointments for all the days you will be gone.
Put an “out of office from x-y dates” in your signature block. This is great for external clients or vendors, or anyone you email that wouldn’t see your work calendar.
Set the out-of-office dates on your email, Slack, voicemail, and anywhere else that colleagues, clients, or vendors can reach you. Provide alternate contacts including their phone number and email.
Tell people you’re going to leave a few days before you actually do to deal with last minute scramblers.
Tell others a return date that is a day or two after your actual return in order to give yourself some uninterrupted catch-up time.
Anticipate snafus and provide problem solving contacts. List who to call if there are issues with the internet, the website, the building, etc.
Delegate or outsource everything you can. This is a perfect opportunity to show your faith in someone who’s ready to take on more responsibility. Who knows? Maybe when you return, that person will be able to take those tasks completely off your plate! For more tips about how and when to delegate, check out this post.
Let’s go!
Once you’ve made the decision to take some time off, here are a few ground rules to keep in mind:
Don’t answer when work calls on your days off. If you’ve planned well, there should be no reason for work to reach out to you, and if they do - ignore it. Of course, use your best judgment on this, but this should be your goal when you are preparing for your time off.
You aren’t getting the restful, productive benefits of time off if the office is reaching out to you.
And by answering those calls, you are subconsciously “training” the caller that it’s okay to disturb your vacation. You signal that you will answer and solve their problem instead of giving them the opportunity to learn how to solve it themselves.
If you are feeling particularly overwhelmed at the thought of a two week vacation, start small! Take a Friday or a Monday off for a long weekend. Practice all of the preparation tips above, and see how it goes. I’m willing to bet a Venti Starbucks that you will have a positive experience which will give you confidence to take more days off in the future.
Finally, HAVE FUN! Whether you’re getting away with the family, meeting up with friends, or off for a solo recharge, remember to enjoy every moment. Understand that the show will go on at work while you are out.
Healthy, well-managed teams are prepared to pick up the slack when a team member is away for a period of time.
I know this from experience. Once I shifted my mindset to focus on the positive outcomes a little R and R would give me and my business, I became Vacay Virtuoso!
If you need help planning and preparing to take some time off for yourself, Savvy Maven can help. I’d be glad to help you set systems in place, order your priorities, set up delegation and support so that you, too, can practice your “resting beach face” in the very near future.