5 Ways to Get Yourself Out of the Office…and Enjoy It!
One very common problem among small business owners is being able to completely detach from work for a week, a few days or even a few hours. We put so much into our businesses that when it comes time to take that much needed break, we have a hard time letting go (at least I do!). And then when we do make it out of the office, we are tethered to our BlackBerry’s and our laptops, afraid that all will come tumbling down without us there.
Truthfully, I think this is a great quality to have as an entrepreneur. It’s this drive and dedication that helps you become successful, makes your clients appreciate you, and gives you that sense of accomplishment we all crave. But it can be counter-productive, because we all need to take a break from time-to-time in order to become better at what we do.
Here are a few ways to help put yourself in a position to get away from work and really enjoy your next vacation.
1. Get Organized
If your work environment and daily schedule are disorganized, you will probably have a hard time ever getting out of the office. Not to mention you may end each day feeling frazzled and flustered. Long before it’s time to take a vacation, spend a day or two (or however many you need) in organization mode. Here are some places you may want to start:
- Create a plan for managing e-mail (set certain times each day, clear your inbox, respond to messages in a timely manner)
- Organize your paper files (try The Paper Tiger)
- Organize your computer files (create categories and subcategories and stick with it)
- Create a daily task list
- Schedule a time every month to pay bills and review your accounts
- Clean out your office and workspace of all of the non-essentials (if your home is anything like mine, your office may become the dumping ground for storage!)
Being organized will give you more control and help you get out of the office without leaving a mess behind…and one you will have to face when you return home.
2. Prioritize
Take time to figure out what needs to be done before you can take some time off (the must-do’s, not the nice-to-do’s), prioritize the list and set a due date. Make it manageable and realistic, though, or else you’ll just end up sabotaging your plans.
We all want to get everything done, quickly and correctly. But sometimes other things, like taking time off, are equally important.
3. Line Up Coverage
If you are a solopreneur, used to doing everything yourself, it may be time to delegate. Consider hiring an employee or outsourcing some of your work to a virtual assistant. While this may not help you immediately, over time someone like a virtual assistant can become a valuable resource for your business and with enough delegation and planning, you may soon be able to take a week-long vacation without looking back!
4. Plan Ahead
Give your clients as much advance notice as possible for when you will be unavailable. Give them a chance to send you their most important work so you can take care of it before you leave, but be sure they know when the cut-off is. And keep in mind your own business administration tasks…make sure you plan time to handle your bookkeeping or other ongoing tasks before your vacation.
5. Leave It Home
Set certain times each day when you will check-in. Or if you fear you may be tempted to check in constantly while away, consider leaving your BlackBerry and laptop at home. Ahh, the horror! I know, I couldn’t do it either, but at least limit your work time so you can really enjoy your vacation.
So, what do you say? Are you ready to take some time off?
Image credit: Anita Levesque
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