As small business owners, one of the biggest problems we have is time management.  We’re often running around trying to figure out how to fit everything in to our busy days, and sometimes need to keep working right on into the weekend.  With lack of time being the norm, it is no wonder that we often have difficulty taking real time off.

The thing is, taking time off is one of the most important things to do, whether you are in business for yourself, or work for others.  Without taking time away from our work, we don’t have time to decompress and enjoy the fruits of our labor.  Our work may be a labor of love, but over time it may become so all-encompassing that we begin to hate it.

Now, once we’ve decided to take some time away, how do we do it?  Just saying, “I am going to take a day away from my work” may not be enough.  You may still check email or visit business-related websites and get roped in.  Or you may start thinking about some project that should really be worked on, and before you know it you’ve put in three hours.  Here are some ways to get away and make sure you’re getting away:

 

1. Disconnect.

If you are taking time off, make a commitment to disconnect from the internet.  Make sure all of your clients know that you won’t be checking email for a certain period of time, and just pull the plug.  If going somewhere for vacation, leave your devices behind.

2. Set goals before and after.

To eliminate the possibility of having nagging doubts about unfinished projects, set a minimum work goal for the days leading up to your time off.  Figure out what you absolutely must get done before you leave, and do it.  Tell yourself that it is ok for anything else to remain undone.  Then, determine what you will do first when you get back to work.

3. Build time away into your client relationships.

Make sure that your clients know from the start when you take time away.  If you don’t work on the weekends, make sure that all your clients are aware.  If you take a month off at the end of every year, make sure they know that too.  It can be hard sometimes, especially for service-based businesses, but your clients will understand.  If they don’t, you probably don’t want them as clients.

4. Be okay with taking a breather.

Even if it’s a work day, sometimes you have to know when you’ve had enough.  If you try to do too much, you’ll get stressed out and your work will suffer.  Find peace with taking time away if you’re feeling the pressure.  Don’t check email for 30 minutes and take a mini-vacation.

 

If you’ve tried everything and find that you really just can’t take any significant time away, then you probably need business support.  Seek out a professional administrative support consultation and find out how you can get help to relieve the pressure of running a small business.