As an entrepreneur, you carry a lot of weight on your shoulders. Not only do you likely have a financial investment in your business, but you also take pride in your company and to do your best to ensure it succeeds. Entrepreneurs are known for working long hours and take very little time to themselves, but once in a while, a vacation is not only a good idea but is needed. Taking a break from your job gives you a chance to relax, unwind, and come back that much more focused and energized.
Of course, going away on holiday is a lot tougher when you’re the owner of the company. So how can you ensure that things don’t fall apart while you’re on vacation?
Here are three tips that can help you:
1. Give Yourself Permission to Get Away.
The very first tip is more of a mental one and that’s to give yourself the permission to step away and enjoy yourself. Going away on holidays doesn’t mean you are less dedicated to your business, nor does it mean you’re being a poor leader. Holiday time is beneficial to a person’s mental and physical well-being, which means you come back in a stronger position.
Burn-out is a very real thing, especially for entrepreneurs. Knowing when it’s time to take a break can actually help to prevent burn-out from happening, as discussed in an in-depth Shopify blog regarding how you can take a break without the business losing momentum. In fact, time away can actually bolster your enthusiasm, ideas, and creativity, all of which is beneficial to your business.
2. Give Everyone Plenty of Notice.
You will also want to be sure you give your staff plenty of notice that you will be away, when you are leaving, and when you’ll be back. They also need to know whether or not they can reach you. Ideally, you want to only be disturbed in the case of an emergency. The whole point of giving staff advance notice is to give them a chance to organize and plan accordingly.
It may also be necessary to give advance notice to customers or clients if they are used to dealing with you directly.
3. Appoint Someone to Act While You’re Gone.
Because decisions may need to be made and problems solved while you’re gone, it will be important to appoint someone to be in charge while you’re gone. Let that person be the one to contact you if need be, rather than various staff members trying to reach you. Of course, the staff will need to be told of this person’s role while you’re away, and what their responsibilities are.
Bonus: Don’t Write-Off Vacation Time.
Just because you are an entrepreneur who operates their own business doesn’t mean you have to wave vacation time goodbye. What it does mean is that there is a bit more planning and organizing involved, so the further you book your holiday in advance, the easier it will be for everyone.
