We’ve talked before about why vacations boost productivity, but many entrepreneurs still struggle with taking time off. The only way to find time for a holiday is to plan for it. Read on for some vacation planning advice to help you get away so you can relax and recover.
Define Your Vacation
Take a look at your annual business cycle. Consider scheduling a vacation during slower periods of work. If you feel that you can’t take a long vacation, schedule some shorter ones throughout the year, such as a four-day weekend every month or two.
Whichever type of vacation you decide on, completely disconnect from work during your time away. And, if you work from home, leave the house completely on your vacation. If not, you will only see the housework that needs to be done. It is also too tempting to just check email “just one time” and be sucked in for hours.
Prepare Before You Go
Delegate. Prepare your staff well before you head off on vacation. Define their responsibilities and limitations. Give them specific directions and follow-up steps. Clarify situations in which you should be contacted for a decision and when you will trust them to make decisions.
Develop systems. Murphy’s law states that anything that can go wrong will go wrong, and it always seems to go wrong when you’re trying to go on vacation. Ensure your staff knows what to do in case of any urgent situation. In addition to the standard operating procedures on managing aspects of the business, write up short instructions on simpler things like how to reboot the internet system and who to contact at your internet service provider or IT support person.
Communicate your plans. Alert your clients that you will be unavailable during your scheduled vacation period, but add one or two days before you leave and one or two days after your return. This will allow you to clear your inbox, prioritize work, and get your staff on track before you leave. It will also allow you to connect with your staff when you return before you start dealing with clients.
Manage expectations. Be aware that clients who tend to procrastinate may try to schedule extra work before you leave. Be clear on what you can and cannot handle before your departure. Remember, you still have to pack and deal with personal issues. If you try to work up to the last minute, you’ll be too stressed to enjoy your holiday.
Automate. Update the out-of-office settings on your email. Update your voicemail message and set phone calls to go to voicemail. If your business is scheduled to post to social media accounts during your vacation, use an automated system or have an employee or virtual assistant do it on your behalf. Don’t post your vacation photos to your business social media accounts until you return. It might make your home or business a target for thieves.
Set Rules for Your Vacation
Set a specific time of day – and a time limit – for checking in your business. You’re on vacation, remember? Some business owners decide to remove their business information from their phones during their vacations. Then, they only check in from their laptops once a day.
Remember, time wisely spent preparing for your vacation means you spend less time connected to your business while you’re away. And you will have more energy when you return.
Do you need help getting your business organized and vacation planning advice? Look at our office and productivity services to see how we can help you. Contact us through our website.
