Take Time Off – You Owe it to Your Business

Many of us in small business are workaholics, we’re never happier than when we are working flat out - going at full tilt. But, how many times have you been told that taking some time off to give your mind and body some time to rejuvenate itself will pay dividends in productivity? I certainly have, and it always seems counter-intuitive somehow. Okay, I am going to take time away from the office and you’re telling me that somehow this is going to increase my productivity? Yeah, tell me another fairy tale.

In reality however, we do need time to decompress, to distance ourselves from the stress and pressure. It’s only when we escape from it that we gain perspective - most of the time we are simply too close to the challenges and problems we face on a daily basis.

The flip side of course is that it’s incredibly difficult for small business owners to get away - after all we ARE indispensable aren’t we?

Before you say, “Well I took a long weekend a few months ago” - they don’t count, especially as you almost certainly took your phone, iPad, or laptop with you and checked emails several times a day. What all small business owners need is some downtime; time to let the stress die away from both our business and personal lives. Otherwise it will catch up with us at some point down the line and we’ll end up sick, perhaps without notice - wham - hospital - enforced time off - no advance planning - chaos.

It’s better to plan ahead and take some time for you - allow you time to decompress, to gain some perspective about your life, your business, your family. There’s NEVER a good time to take time off - accept it - face up to it. But if you don’t just stop - you may be stopped.

But how? Well first of all, make it a priority - if you had to go away for a week on a business trip, or to a conference, or tradeshow, you’d plan it right? You’d arrange for someone to cover your daily duties whatever they were. So, treat your vacation in the same way.

Right now, as you are reading this, get your calendar out and choose a week within the next three months for a vacation. Choose a time when business is less hectic, and don’t say it’s always busy - there must be some times when it’s quieter. Remember, this is a commitment to your business - it’s as important to your business as it is to your personal and mental health. Remind yourself that you will come back refreshed, better able to cope with the many crises that crop up, and with lots of new ideas for how to make your business more successful.

As your vacation time gets closer, ensure you have a contingency plan in case there is a last-minute emergency. Something always crops up, that’s Murphy’s law - plan for it so that nothing prevents you from getting away.

Think about what you need from a vacation; is it laying by a pool reading novels, spending time with family, or climbing Everest? What does escape mean for you? Do you need time to refocus? If so, perhaps a week at a retreat, meditating, doing yoga, or even something extreme such as spending time at a religious silent order (you can find many of these on the Internet, and you do not have to be religious yourself) might work for you.

If you already take regular vacations you will already know the benefits, so tell everyone in your network; tell those workaholics that they’ll achieve more in the long run if they take a break!