How to take a break and run a business

Start up small business and vacation time

Taking a break for a small business or entrepreneurs can be a very stressful time. If you own a business or are the only person in the business, then the thought of losing clients and money could ensure you never take a holiday. Some business owners falsely believed that if a business owner decides to take a break, then the business will fail and all their customers will go elsewhere. As a business owner, you need to learn how to take a break and run a business for your own peace of mind and that of the business. On the other hand, for most employees, it’s an enjoyable experience and staff look forward to their holidays.  Plans for the holiday start weeks, sometimes months in advance.  Money spent on hotels, flights and money exchanged.  The countdown to the holiday

Vacation for entrepreneurs and How to take a break and run a business

can begin months in advance.  When they are away, the business continues, and upon their return, staff feel refreshed and eager to be back at work.

Contrary to popular belief, small businesses often live hand to mouth, and the business owner opts to pay their staff before them.  AXA surveyed 1150 sole traders and business owners with less than nine employees (2014).  28% of the business owner stated that they regularly had no funds to pay themselves.  The majority of business owners earn circa £10,000 per year and have to rely on dividends and lump sums at various times of the year.  Dividends get paid if the business makes a profit.  If the business doesn’t make a profit the owner cannot take a dividend.

Running a business can be very stressful, and it is for this reason that business owners need to take a break from the business. Unfortunately, many small business owners very rarely take a break from the business and worry when they are away.  It is very rare indeed to hear of a small business owner taking two weeks, in a row, as a holiday.  Most business owners will take a week or long weekend. How to take a break and run a business is a skill and lots of trusts from the business owner.

Without a break from our normal daily routines, our minds get tired, our bodies exhausted and our thinking processes are slow.  A holiday isn’t just a luxury; it is a necessity.  We need to let our minds rest; our bodies relax, and give ourselves time to recover from the stress of running a business.

How to take a break and run a business

• Tie up loose ends – start to plan in advance, finish projects, tell clients and suppliers
• Learn to Delegate and trust those you have delegated
• Schedule in advance anything necessary for the business, for example, Social Media, Payment of bills.
• If you absolutely must take your phone or laptop with you – get tech savvy. Find ways to use technology to your advantage. For example Skype, Facetime, Dropbox, etc.
• Set boundaries before you leave for holiday
• Don’t feel Guilty about being away from the office

In Conclusion

How to take a break and run a business is as important as a meeting with a new client or the bank manager.  Your body and mind need to rest; you need to take a step back from the business and evaluate what has happened over the last year and plan for the future.  The old saying ‘Can’t see the wood for the trees’ is so apt in these circumstances.  You need to recharge your batteries, find inspiration and discover new ideas.

Your business will continue for a few weeks without you.  If you have staff, brief them about all the issues that could occur and give them solutions or options to manage the problem.  If you are working on your own, then you could employ a Virtual PA or Virtual Assistant.  A Virtual PA or Virtual Assistant will man your phones, answer your emails and deal with your customers. Until you get back, refreshed from your holiday.

Even if you own the business, it’s a hard statement, but no one is indispensable.  Your customers know you.  They like you, and they trust your service or product.  For the sake of two weeks, so that you can replenish your thinking processes, your body and mind take a break from the responsibilities of running a business and enjoy the festive period or summer holidays.