Are you a small business owner that is trying to navigate having real time off from running your business this summer? Look no further, follow these key tips to ensure that you get to enjoy a real break while keeping your business running smoothly in the meantime!
There is often guilt from small business owners when even thinking about taking time off?! We are here to tell you, yes you can have a break and why you absolutely should not only for yourself and family but also for your business! Truthfully, if you don’t build in rest as a part of running your business you will likely burn yourself out and your business could suffer in the long run!
So, let’s break it down together! How to actually have a break this summer without worrying about your business falling apart while you go off-grid and catch some summer sun!
1 Don’t think of breaks as optional, they are a must!
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Running a business is not a sprint, it is marathon! It is key to pace yourself and create times for breaks or you will hit a wall. So, if you’re wanting to take some time away this summer it could be a perfect time to schedule in one of these important breaks!
After some time away from your business you can come back with a refreshed mindset and new energy!
- Taking a break could help give your creativity muscles a rest! With some time away, new environments and daily routines you can come back to work with a new perspective and bring fresh ideas to the table!
- Not only creativity but also other skills like problem solving and decision making will be more refined when you are refreshed!
- Proper breaks also reduce decision fatigue and allow you to return to your business with clarity.
- Through taking breaks you are setting healthy boundaries and appreciating the need for a work life balance, yes even with it’s a break from your own business!
Try not to view you having a break as a disruption and view it more as a necessity and important part of your business process and growth!
2 Plan as much as possible in advance!
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To schedule in a real break, you need to put things in place way in advance, weeks or even months! You have to take time off intentionally, don’t wait until you burnout to take the break you should have had planned out for months before! Create a list of things to set up in advance of your time off, think of it as a checklist!
- Pick when you would like to take some time off and how long for. Block out this time frame in your calendars both physical and digital. If applicable in your industry begin to inform clients of your upcoming time away.
- Begin to organise through your day to day, weekly and monthly tasks. What needs to be done before you time off what can be scheduled or automated now and what can be done after you return.
- Once all of the task that needed to be done before are completed, ensure that all content such as social media posts, newsletters, blogs etc are created and scheduled in ahead of time. You don’t want to still be creating content and scheduling things in while you’re on your break! Also make sure you have an out of office message set up ready for when your break begins!
- As you break begins turn that out of office message on and put any relevant platforms on holiday mode! In case of emergency ensure close contacts after informed of if and how they can reach you.
3 Log out!
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Now this is the part where a lot of business owners will trip up! If email notifications are still on, tabs are still open and you are ‘just checking in’ while lounging poolside that’s not a break! You have just taken your office on the plane with you!
If you’re taking a rest make sure it’s a real rest!
How to protect your downtime this summer!
- Set digital boundaries and stick to them: Mute any work-related apps to make sure that email notifications won’t disturb your peace while you’re away! Make sure that out-of-office message is getting to work!
- Clean up your workspace before your break: Whether it’s your desk, studio, office wherever you work from make sure it is clean and tidy before you start your break. This is a great way to draw a line under your work for the time being and mentally ‘log out’ while giving yourself a clean slate to return to!
- Commit to being unplugged from work: Assign someone you trust to hold you accountable and support you in sticking to your boundaries!
4 Embrace the Summer Slowdown!
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Depending on your industry, summer may naturally be a slower season. Take the time to reflect and recharge! Let yourself just be, talk walks in the warm, summer evenings or read that book you’ve been meaning to get around to!
If Summer is your busy season you still need to plan in a break! Instead, if possible, schedule in your time off in the surrounding seasons for example early Autumn or late Spring. No matter what you industry is you need to take breaks!
Take the time to…
- Reflect – What is working, where is there room for improvement?
- Reconnect – What is your ‘why’ behind your business? What inspires you?
- Recharge – Recharge your creativity, your drive, your body too! Explore some new opportunities and think about where you can grow your knowledge!
Let yourself be a human for a while. Go outside. Take long walks. Watch sunsets. Cook slow meals. Enjoy that slowdown!
5 Re-entry Plan!
Not sure how to avoid a chaotic day back that makes you instantly regret ever taking time off? Avoid it through making a re-entry plan! Don’t immediately jump in the deep end and try to answer every single unread email and schedule in 20 meetings on that first day! Ease yourself back in by having some planned tasks and ways to review where you’re at to get back in the swing of things, gently!
Re-entry checklist:
- No meetings on your first day back! If you follow any advice on this checklist follow this one! Take that first day to readjust and back into your business mindset!
- Reconnect! Check in with your team and your goals for your business. Think of your return as a clean slate where you can come back rested and ready to jump back in!
- Reflect on your break! What went well, what would you change for your next break!
Ready to take your Summer break?
You are not just the owner of your businesses you are it’s heart, muscle and life-force! Think of your business as a car and you’re the engine if your engine burns out your car will breakdown! You are human and taking a break isn’t selfish it is the professional and responsible thing to do for the sake of your business and yourself!
Plan things out, prepare and then take that break you’ve been thinking about!
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Did you find this blog helpful? Our aim is to help small businesses thrive and this blog is a part of our ongoing series dedicated to small business owners. If there’s a topic you’d like us to cover, don’t hesitate to reach us via our socials!Â
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