How to Take Time Off

When working for yourself, it’s easy to forget that weekends, public holidays or time off exists. This is definitely the case when working from home. It’s important to implement systems for your business that allow you to take leave during “normal holidays” (these being the holidays that traditionally employed people are allowed during the working year).

I think it’s vital to take time off from work to disconnect completely and take a mental break from the difficulties of work life. Time away from working in and on your business brings perspective, allows you to recharge, and importantly, gives you permission to think about something other than work. You come back to your desk with new energy and passion for your work.

Like anything you do for your business, time off should be well planned. You should plan to wrap up tasks and projects or leave them neatly organised so that you can pick up when you get back without wondering what part of the project you worked on last. It’s difficult to relax if your workspace still looks like you’re in the middle of a project. Tidy your desk so that even if you do use the computer during your time off, you’re not distracted by work items lying around.

You should create a strategic plan for winding down your operations, as well as a plan for kicking things off again when you get back.

How to prepare yourself to take time away from work

Tell your clients

Part of your strategic plan for winding down should include timeous communication with your clients. Let your clients know that you will be taking time away from your desk. Tell them exactly when you finish work and when they can expect you to be back in your office. If you are planning to take leave over the festive season, chances are, your clients will also be away from their computers.

Prepare a to-do list

This is related to preparing your planner or journal. Your To-Do List should be for business-related tasks only. Go over old lists and move any incomplete tasks (or even tasks that haven’t been started yet) to a clean page in your planner. When you get back from your time off, you won’t have any doubts as to what needs to be done. Bonus: If you organise your list in order of priority, you won’t have to waste time deciding what needs your attention first. A little bit of time spent now will save time later.

Clean out e-mails

Having a list of unread e-mails is a huge distraction when you’re trying to work through the new ones systematically. File all important e-mails in folders and clear out anything that you aren’t planning to read or that aren’t relevant anymore. If you haven’t read that time-sensitive promotional e-mail 6 months after you received it, it’s pointless reading it now. To the trash!

Plan your holiday

Planning how you’ll spend your time while on holiday seems counter-intuitive, I know. But, if you’re anything like me, you have a list of fun projects that you have been pushing aside in favour of work. These are projects that you promise yourself you will work on “when you get time”. They aren’t too mentally demanding and only need an afternoon or two of languid pottering to achieve success. Unlike normal work days, you can decide what a successful holiday plan looks like. If you want long afternoons of sunbathing, catching up with friends, clearing out a cupboard, or watching movies, put it in your planner.

Schedule time for yourself when you’re on leave, and you’ll be doing your mental health and your business a huge favour.