Taking Time Away
Photo Credit: Klearchos Kapoutsis
I recently posted a list of my Pro's and Con's For Working From Home and running my own business -- and while that list will look a little different for every business owner; the general ideas seemed to resonate with many of my readers.
Based on my past experiences, it's quite difficult to take any amount of time off from my business {especially since I'm a one-woman operation} but it's also 100% worth it every time I do. Even taking a few days off to relax, spend time with family and friends, and do something out of my "normal routine" seems to give me a fresh perspective and even more energy to get back to work when I return home.
So as we enter another very busy holiday season -- and as I enter a period of maternity leave -- I've been thinking long and hard about what steps I'll need to take in order to continue generating a decent income, keep my business running, and prevent possible issues {all while being as "hands-off" as possible}.
Here are a few of my tips and suggestions for successfully taking time off while still running a business.
1. Plan WELL In Advance:
If you simply decide to take a vacation starting tomorrow, there's a pretty good chance you will be very stressed and have tons of catching up to do when you return... which is definitely not ideal.
However, if you sit down a month or two ahead of time, plan out the days you'll be gone {whether for a vacation, holiday time with family, maternity leave, or just a much-needed break} you can start working ahead now and get appropriate plans in place well before you leave.
2. Try to Cover Every Task:
Chances are that if you run a business from your home or have a very limited number of employees, you end up doing the majority of the work yourself. This is the one MAJOR challenge for small-business owners! So as you start to plan for your time off, really pay attention to every single task you do each day.
I've found that it's helpful to write them all down and then glance over the list every now and then to see if you're forgetting something. Now you can use your list to train or teach someone else to do those tasks while you're gone. This will make it much easier for them, and less stressful for you!
3. Don't Totally Check Out:
Even though I'm all about rest and relaxation, I honestly don't think it's possible {or necessary} to totally check out. Yes, there might be days where you don't check your email, voicemail, or do anything business related -- and that's fine. But if you're going to be gone for more that just a few days, it's important to check in at different times and be available by phone and/or email throughout your time away.
Yes, planning ahead and finding someone to cover your daily tasks will help alleviate most of your responsibilities, but there will still be daily and weekly items that need your attention... especially if you are the owner.
4. Properly Inform Your Clients, Coworkers, and Others:
In a world of instant communication, it is VERY important to adequately inform everyone of your time off. Change the voice message on your business phone and your cell phone to reflect the dates you will be out of the office, if you're planning to respond to messages during that time, and/or who they can contact in your absence.
Have an "out of office" auto-reply set up for your email and include the same information as your voice message.
Inform your current clients and employees of the dates you will be gone and how to best contact you in the event of an emergency -- or who they should contact instead while you're gone. The more information you give them, the less likely they will be to bother you while you're taking time off!
5. Gear Up for your First Day Back:
Even if you do all the steps above, there is still the possibility that something will go wrong -- and that's just life.
Relax and enjoy yourself during your time off, but then get ready to work a little extra when you come back. Unfortunately, unless you are willing to let some things fall through the cracks {which can be OK} you'll have a bit of catch-up to do, no matter how much you planned ahead.
So since the holiday season is just weeks away, I'd encourage you to start thinking about when you would like to take time off. And you definitely SHOULD take some time off -- even if it's just for a day a two!
Then implement the steps above and enjoy your family, the festivities, and a much needed break.
You deserve it!
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