If you're a solo-preneur, run a small business or even work for a corporate body, chances are that you feel under pressure NOT to take any time off from work.
You may have all the time in the world to take for a vacation, but it's more likely that you struggle to take 10 days off a year.
Big mistake. We are all aware of how a good vacation can restore us, mind and body. If you never switch off, how detrimental is that to you, your work and your family?
So in the spirit of keeping us all happy and working well, here are my top 5 tips for Making Time for Holidays.
1. Plan Ahead
If you work for yourself, this is the easiest thing to do. You know your work peaks and troughs, so study your calendar and schedule time out. If you work in a team, there will have to be some negotiation, but you ought not have to work EVERY Christmas...
2. Budget For It
Ok, so going on holiday won't earn you any money, but not taking time off will burn you out. When you plan your yearly financial targets, subtract the time that you won't be working so that there's no issue about not having budgetted for your time away.
3. Set Up Your Back Up Team
You're irreplaceable, I know that. So what happens when you're so burned out, you can't work? Instead of waiting for that to happen, put together a team now. Outsource as much as you can, whether that's the admin, graphic design, website management or telesales. Whatever will make your time away easier, stops you fretting and making calls from the sun lounger.
4. Book It - Now!
If you pre-book your flights and accommodation there's very little incentive not to go. Have tickets, will travel.
5. Stop procrastinating.
You may think that the day is never long enough to do all you want, but if you REALLY want to do something, you'll find a way.
And one freebie...
6. Find a job where it's ok to shut down for 2 weeks. Try working for a French firm in August. It just doesn't happen!
