photo via flickr user Willem van de Kerkhof
As it’s mid-July and the summer is half over, this is the time to take a much needed break before the craziness of work picks up again in the fall. I know the idea of a week away can be scary when you own a business, especially if you charge hourly, but I’ve come to learn that time not working is just as important for your business as time working. It gives you the opportunity to completely disconnect and release stress. And for me, a vacation helps bring new ideas to my business. It’s so easy to get burnt out when you’re in the weeds of the day-to-day grind. There’s no time to take a step back, reassess and gain perspective. A week or two away can give you that and more.
Here’s a list of a few things that help me worry less about work and relax while on vacation.
Give all your clients advance notice
When I know I’m going to be on vacation for longer than a week, I start telling my clients I’ll be out at least a month in advance. No one has ever said anything negative when I give them enough time to wrap up loose ends and prepare for when I’m gone. I also send out a reminder about a week before I leave, and then a day or two before I’m out.
Completely unplug
I have tried working vacations before, where I go on “vacation”, but don’t tell my clients. I would end up trying to do all my work in the morning before friends and family woke up, and then at night after they went to sleep. This never worked, but instead made me more exhausted and stressed from trying to work around my family. That stress only multiplied when I got back to the office, having not spent time relaxing. Instead of this strategy, drop all the stress and just take the time off.
Sending a status report
To avoid clients bombarding your inbox during vacation, send out a status report before you leave. Let them know where you left off on projects and what they can do in your absence. Leave detailed contact information for anyone they may need to connect with. If I have booked interviews for my clients, I leave them the reporter’s information so they can get in touch directly.
Communicate when you get back
I send an email as soon as I’m back to let clients know I’m available for work again, reminding them where I left off on projects. I also volunteer for new projects to make up for the time I missed out on. People are usually willing to give more hours when you volunteer for more projects.
In my experience, no one can replace you in a week, so don’t stress. The work will always be there.
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