Take Your Vacation! No Matter How Impossible That Might Seem

I took a vacation. Yes, I really did. 10 days of enjoying the mountains and the lakes and it was just wonderful. Wonderful, I say!

I share this today with you because there was a time in my life as a solopreneur, small business owner, when I didn’t really take vacation – ever.  Oh sure, I went somewhere else that wasn’t my office, and I pretended I was taking time off, but…

I kept my phone turned on (and back in the day, even had my landline business phone forward to my mobile), and I schlepped my laptop with me. I refused to go anywhere I couldn’t get internet – even on a cruise! And I checked everything digital at least once a day. I answered the phone and replied to email, including my always-promised reply to every business email within one business day.

Oy. Some vacation. (Not!)

I did this to myself (and my poor husband) for a number of years. And then, during one vacation where I couldn’t get internet at all (Surprise! I had even confirmed that it would be available and it was not) – I finally realized (light bulb moment!) that enforced downtime was not a luxury. It was a necessity for my health, and the health of my business, too. Truly! 

In fact, I believe now that if I don’t take some downtime to relax for a period of at least a week, at least a couple of times a year, I am doing myself, and my business, damage.

Yes, damage. Damage, because when one’s brain doesn’t have extended time to rest, relax, and have fun, then the individual’s health suffers. That’s true for everyone. But further – for us entrepreneurs / self-employed / and especially solopreneurs – our businesses suffer, too. They suffer because of eventual burn-out. And burn-out means we don’t treat our clients as well as they should be treated, we become unable to creatively solve problems for them or for our business functions, we don’t stay on top of the necessary literature that keeps us up to date – all resulting in bigger losses for our businesses than those losses that might have (note MIGHT have) happened if we actually took time off.

Yes, I do understand how hard it is to simply STOP for a period of time. And I agree, it’s almost counter-intuitive that stepping away (REALLY stepping away) could be a benefit to our businesses.

But of course, it’s not just me who thinks taking a good break is beneficial. There is a plethora of research that tells us that taking time away is a benefit to our health – you know – the whole work-life balance thing. Further, there is evidence that shows us the benefits to our businesses of downtime. Our creativity spikes, we become more effective and efficient, and we’re nicer to those around us. 

It CAN Be Done!

I do know that it seems difficult to take real time off if that hasn’t been your habit till now. In particular, as advocates, we feel as if we are abandoning our clients in their time of need.  But it turns out, despite what we might believe, we are not indispensible! But it’s very true:  If you don’t take care of yourself, then you can’t take care of anyone else!  (Also known as, “If Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” 😉)

Here are some ideas to help you take time off, including making sure you don’t come back to an onslaught of catching up to do:

1.  Plan Ahead

Two or three weeks before you take your time off, reach out to current clients, and mention to potential new clients, that you’ll be taking time away. Assure them that you’ll be returning on whatever date to pick up where you left off with them. Tell them they can call and leave messages, but that you won’t respond until you return to work. (And yes, you can check messages, but DO NOT RESPOND! until you return. Otherwise – you aren’t taking time off!)

Then – important – connect with another advocate who can step in on your behalf in case an emergency arises (if your practice deals with emergencies.) You don’t need to tell your existing clients about this person except maybe to assure them that you have backup for while you’re away. (Then, you might be able to return the favor when your chosen advocate decides to take time off, too.)

2.  Just Before You Go…

Make sure all business details are taken care of, such as making sure any staff or freelancers are paid, bills are paid, etc.

And then manage expectations:

Change the voice mail on your phone, and the auto reply on your email, to be sure those who contact you know they won’t hear back from you until after your return date.

If there are forms on your website, or if you sell items, add a notice to your site that tells people what to expect. Here’s the one I use on DiagKNOWsisMedia.com:

Your main task will be to make sure those who support your business have what they need, and those who might contact you or with whom you already work, know exactly what to expect.

Some Tasks to Help You Prepare for Downtime

Here are some tricks I use; the ways I’ve been able to manage the angst that sometimes pops up if I feel guilty (!) for taking time off:

In my email, I set up a “Return” folder. Every email I need to do something with (reply to, read, take notes, add to my calendar, etc), including newsletters I just like to read, goes into that folder. When I return to my office, I retrieve all those emails, return them to my Inbox – and then handle them. None are forgotten; they are just postponed.

On my phone, I change my message. In my message, I mention my return date (and sometimes, it’s a date that’s a few days after I will return) – and mention that I’ll return their call shortly after I return. 

On a website form, I add a note to the email they receive after submission that, again, tells them what to expect from me. 

That way, no one expects to hear from me. It takes the pressure off.

Now It’s YOUR Turn – Take a Vacation! (Or at least some time off!)

Everyone deserves – REQUIRES – down time, and if there is someone in your life, especially your work life, that doesn’t buy into that, then you need to jettison that person from your life. You don’t need that kind of toxicity.

Do you have further suggestions for how to prepare for time away?  Please add your own great ideas for taking time off to the comments below if you’d like. Your colleagues (and I) will appreciate it!