Entrepreneurs tend to be laser-focused on their business, resulting in them getting burnt out or overworked rather easily. They fail to see when to take a well-deserved rest and tend to push through regardless of how they’re feeling. However, this is dangerous, as our health is a very important part of how we do our business- we can’t work if we’re sick, after all. But many are still apprehensive because they’ll be leaving their business behind. Below are some ways entrepreneurs can take time off without negatively affecting their business.
Decide on a Date and Be Firm With It
Plan your day off well in advance and send it. Make it known that you don’t want to negotiate- after all, you deserve this break. However, it’s also important that you leave room for preparations so talk to your staff beforehand. Arrange your team’s tasks and start allocating responsibilities. Tell them to cooperate with you before you leave so that everything will go smoothly, but it’s important to set boundaries. Planning is the secret to making your vacation seamless and worry-free.
Find the Best Time of The Year (It’s Not Always Summer)
You don’t have to go during the summer season or any popular time to take a vacation. Ideally, you should be doing the opposite. Go at a time when people won’t normally go for vacations- you’ll have less competition and you’ll be able to relax more. It’s also wise to time your holiday during slow seasons, or the parts of the year where business and work tend to slow down. There isn’t much to do and you’re not exactly needed in the office, so take this opportunity to rest!
Don’t Distract Yourself With Work While On Vacation
Because we’re always connected. It’s so easy to feel like we’re not really resting. When you take time off, make sure that you’re focused on resting, and do your best to be away from your work. Hire a small boat and enjoy the open waters. Camp in the middle of the mountains. Whatever it is you do, you need to be unavailable to everyone else and focused on nothing but your vacation. This is your time to relax, recover, and recuperate your energies, so it’s best that you don’t taint that by doing some work-related tasks while resting.
You Can Go On Vacations During Business Trips Too
Entrepreneurs tend to travel a lot for business. However, it doesn’t mean that you should be thinking of just exclusively doing business during travel. After negotiations, conferences, or meetings, reward yourself! See what sights the location has to offer and enjoy the moment. You’re already there and you’re done with your tasks. It doesn’t hurt to have some fun along the way.
Have Someone Be In Charge While You’re Away
We’ve mentioned how critical planning is, so you want to have someone who can handle business matters while you’re away. It could be the second-in-command or someone you’ve been training for a while. What’s important is you lay down what it is they need to do, trust them enough to be able to accomplish it, and leave it to them.
This will also train them to eventually handle the more significant tasks to offset your workload. It’s also a good idea to only allow them to be the person to disturb your break. If they’re the ones contacting you during your rest, then that means you need to address an issue.
Have Confidence In Your Team
It’s moments when you’re away that you can see how well your team functions. Without you to guide them every step of the way, you’ll be able to fully see and understand how they work together, and how they tackle problems and obstacles that you would normally face. Of course, it’s best when you provide them with the tools to make the whole situation easier, but their skills should be more than enough.
What’s important is that you trust your own team. Have some faith in them- they’ve seen you do it many times before, and good leaders teach anyway. They would have learned how to operate the business without you, and eventually result in a more efficient operation.
Everyone, regardless of position in the company, needs a vacation. Business owners and entrepreneurs don’t often take theirs because they feel like they need to constantly monitor their business. That might be true to some extent, but even the most successful of entrepreneurs didn’t get to where they are without taking a break, so take yours too.
