If you’re the owner of a small business, you’re likely very passionate about the work that you do.
Entrepreneurs work hard to get their small businesses up and running, and even harder to get noticed in an oversaturated digital marketplace. They’re always on the lookout for opportunities to grow their business and expand their network, employing creative ways to get noticed. Some even drive around in a vehicle with business car magnets displayed on the outside of the car so they can advertise their brand on the go.
If the above sounds like you, you probably live, breathe, and dreamwork, and taking time off is not a priority. This is true for many entrepreneurs—a past study by online lender OnDeck.com found that only 57% of small business owners had vacation plans for that year.
While your passion for work may seem like a plus in a culture that celebrates the hustle, having your entire life revolve around your business is not sustainable. Pandemic fatigue is hard enough to deal with as it is, adds entrepreneur stress to the mix, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for burnout.
Signs You’re Heading Toward Burnout
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), burnout is an occupation phenomenon that results from poorly managed workout stress. If you experience the following, you might be burning out:
- Low energy and/or exhaustion
- Feeling negative about or emotionally distant from your job
- Poor performance at work
- Changed sleeping habits
- Irritability with employees and/or customers
- Unexplained aches and pains
To help prevent burnout, it’s important to take a break no matter how busy you are. If going on holiday for four weeks is impossible for you at this stage, that’s fine. Stepping away from work responsibilities for a few hours a day, taking the weekend off, or going on a vacation all benefit both your mental well-being and your performance as a business owner.
Here are some reasons why taking a breather deserves to be penciled into your busy schedule.
Time Off Reboots Your Mind and Energizes Your Body
Stepping back from your startup refreshes your mind or, as Stephen Covey says in his groundbreaking book the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, “sharpens the saw.” Getting enough rest and making time for renewing activities helps you get past mental blockages, improves your focus, and renews your energy so you can come back to work ready to face your toughest challenges.
It Inspires Creativity
It’s hard to be innovative when you’re constantly worried about your business. Taking a break helps you reignite your creative spark. Research suggests that recreational travel and its diversifying experiences increase creativity by reducing stress.
If you can’t take a long vacation right now, at least allocate some time to creative pursuits. Completely unplug from work for a day if you can—don’t check your email or messages. Read a book, try a new exercise program, or sign up for a class you’ve always wanted to take but never seemed to have time for.
Apart from making you feel good, taking time out to do something that inspires you may also get you out of a creative rut and improve your problem-solving skills when you return to work.
Taking a Break Lets Your Employees Shine
If you have people on the payroll, taking a vacation provides them with opportunities to showcase their skills. Going on holiday also lets your employees know that you trust them.
What’s more, taking a break from your business and leaving it in the hands of your employees can help you identify what needs to be improved. For example, are your employees finding time management difficult in your absence? This might be the sign you need to train them to be more efficient.
How to Be Strategic About Your Time Off
To make your vacation as worry-free as possible (and to avoid the temptation to check in on your business every hour on the hour), follow these tips:
Schedule your vacation on slow periods
One of the perks of being your own boss is being able to set your own schedule. Fully maximize this perk by working in a break at a time that’s best for you and your business.
If you’ve had your business for a while, you likely have a good idea of its slow periods. Whenever possible, schedule your time off for during those times. You might need to compromise—for instance, your slow period might be during winter, limiting your vacation options to cold-weather activities like skiing and snowboarding.
Set boundaries
For many small business owners, it’s impossible to unplug from work completely while on vacation. However, you should still set boundaries so you won’t find yourself obsessively checking your emails at 2 AM in your hotel room.
Figure out how connected you want to be, and set aside time for tasks such as checking in on your employees and taking care of urgent matters.
Learn to delegate
Prepare for your vacation by training your employees to handle important tasks on their own. Delegate noncore activities to new workers and critical operations to your trusted employees. You should also cross-train workers so that you won’t be left in the lurch if someone calls in sick.
For instance, the person you’ve hired to market your business offline doesn’t show up. You must have someone on staff to pick up the slack, whether it’s something as simple as driving around town in the business car with magnets advertising your company or responding to questions from important clients.
Let your clients and employees know
Are your clients used to answering their questions within the day? Do your employees still rely on you for help with making decisions? Set their expectations by informing them ahead of time that you’ll be taking some time off, and inform them when you’ll be able to get back to them and address their concerns personally.
Relax
It’s highly unlikely that your business will fail if you take a few days off, so take a deep breath and relax. Avoid stressing too much about your startup, and focus on recharging your mind and body. Whether your time off consists of spending a day watching movies from your coach, going on a road trip, or traveling to someplace exotic, make the most of it.
Doing so helps you come back stronger and ready to face whatever challenges are in store for you and your business. What’s more, it sets a good example to your employees and lets them know you value yours and their physical and mental wellness as much as the bottom line.
