Running a business is hard work. It takes up all your time and energy, and you rarely get the opportunity to get away from it all. You can squeeze in gym sessions and date nights with your partner outside of office hours, but your mind is always still on the business. This is especially true in the early stages when you have to work hard to grow your company and make it profitable. You have little time for anything else but finding new customers and meeting with partners.
But everyone needs a break sometimes, and business owners more than anyone. If you spend all your time working without any downtime, you risk succumbing to burnout. The stress will become too much and your mental health will suffer. That’s why vacations are so important. A trip away will give you the chance to take a break and recharge your batteries. But with a business to run and employees to manage, how can you find the time to get away?
The following four tips outline some ways for managers and leaders to take a holiday without sacrificing the hard-earned success of their company. With proper time management and the right strategies, you can be sipping a cocktail on a remote beach, safe in the knowledge that everything is still ticking along nicely back home.
Plan ahead
As a boss, you can’t just pack up and leave for the Caribbean on a whim. Your employees will be adrift and your clients unhappy, and you’ll no doubt come home to a much worse situation. But if you plan for your vacation several months ahead, you can prepare the business to deal with your absence. This way you can tie up outstanding matters with clients before you go, and ensure your team has everything they need to work without your close guidance. With a comprehensive plan in place, there is no reason why it won’t be business as usual.
Be contactable
No matter how much you prepare, there could always be something that goes wrong while you’re away. A client could be unhappy with their service or your computer system could go down. In these scenarios, you will need to be involved to help fight the fire. Although you should use your vacation to switch off and relax, you should ensure your staff has a way of contacting you in an emergency.
Switch off
It can be hard to drag yourself away from the business, but if you want to relax, you have to learn to switch off. Set rules for yourself, such as only checking your email at certain times of the day, and having your phone off for long periods.
Travel for business
If you really can’t afford to take two weeks away from your company, why not combine business and travel? Perhaps your company has international clients or global sites around the world. Maybe your company works with charity projects in South America or water bores in Australia. If so, schedule a meeting or inspection overseas and use the opportunity to fit in a little relaxation and sightseeing at the same time.
