When and how to take time off work as a small business owner
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I used to feel bad about taking time off work as a freelancer and small business owner.
“Everyone’s depending on me.” “What will they do if I’m not there?” “Who will take care of my clients?“
It’s easy to get swept up in the guilt-trip game when your small business is dependent on you doing work to survive. That being said, it’s not going to hurt to have a few well-planned vacations added to your calendar.
Planning and executing a well-meaning time off work will help you recharge and envigorate you to do your work for a longer period of time. You prove to your clients and coworkers that you can leave work alone and gain perspective for your future endeavors.
That being said, you don’t have to plan an elaborate vacation to use your vacation days. Plan a few vacation days around getting work done around your house or visit family for a day or so. Vacation days can be just as productive as working on your small business, if not more.
If you’re needing some structure to take time off work from your small business, here are a few types of vacations you can plan for with a few ways to avoid feeling guilty about taking them.
How long will you take time off work as a small business owner
Your coworkers, employees, and clients will want to know when and how long they will have to manage by themselves or wait for your return. Here are some types of time off you’ll need to expect and how to handle each as a small business owner.
Take Time Off for: Holidays
It’s important to take time off during the holidays to spend time with family and loved ones. You might have long-lost relatives come in just for the occasion.
You should coordinate schedules with staff or coworkers if your small business will remain open during the holidays. Make sure you have a priority list of your holiday preferences. I’ve worked at a few jobs where they have either blacked out holiday leave or they ask which ones were the most important for you to spend with family. Both options were understandable and made it easy to delegate which days people most valued off from work.
Make sure you make it clear when you will be gone and any policies that you’ve made concerning the holidays well in advance. You don’t want to have to fight about holiday pay or time off two weeks before the schedules come out. Try to have guidelines set for you and your employees or coworkers about a month or two in advance to keep everyone happier.
Take Time Off for: Long Weekends
A long weekend here and there is probably my favorite way to find some time off work. Not only does it give you an extra day at your destination or activity, but it also makes your work week just a bit shorter.
Try to plan your long weekends in advance, maybe about a week out or so. Taking a day off is usually understandable to most people, but that’s also easier overlooked if you have everything squared away before you leave. Make a list of tasks to do before you head out for your extended weekend away and delegate anything that you didn’t get done or won’t be able to work on in your absence.
Otherwise, enjoy the weekend at your leisure!
Take Time Off for: Extended Vacations
When someone takes about 1-2 weeks off, companies refer to them as extended vacations. They could be for a variety of reasons, like cruises, trips abroad, or even stress.
Extended vacations can be very luxurious but might need a bit more planning than your typical weekend away. When I left for France for about a week and a half, I coordinated with many of my coworkers and bosses to make sure my work was covered and someone was available to oversee it. Running my own small business, I’ve had to make more people aware, from my clients to my mail service, to make sure they know my responsibilities are covered.
While they should be enjoyed, keep tabs on the ongoings of the office if you can. You might not need to be working but being insightful never hurt anyone for a few minutes during the day.
Take Time Off for: Sabbatical
Usually, you will know well ahead of time if you are taking a sabbatical. These things are planned ahead of time a few months, if not years, in advance. Sabbaticals can be paid or unpaid.
Most universities or businesses offer a sabbatical for one year for every seven worked. If you’re taking time off for work for a sabbatical, you might indulge in pursuing a different culture or another business venture that will help your small business grow. A traditional sabbatical is usually pursued to indulge in other areas of study or personal pursuits.
Some small business owners might use them to expand or learn more about their industry. Whether you open another small business or learn a new trade secret, you’re in good hands when using your time off wisely.
How to take time off work as a small business owner
It can be really difficult to find a reason to take time off work as a small business owner, but it’s essential to take time off work to avoid burning out from your entrepreneurial venture. Here are a few ways you can circumvent guilt-tripping yourself from taking a few well needed days off.
How to take time off work: Have a purpose
Do you not want to be frivolous with your hard-earned vacation days? If you feel like you wouldn’t know what to do with yourself on a vacation, make a purpose.
You don’t need to make some extravagant plans when you take time off work as a small business owner. It can be as simple as doing a few more chores or remodeling your house if you want but making plans and knowing how you will spend your time off will help you feel less guilty when you use those vacation days.
Of course, make it fun if you can but don’t feel like when you take time off from your business that you’ll do it at the drop of a hat. Know you are taking the time to make your personal life more productive and effectively using your paid working hours away from the office to do it.
How to take time off work: Plan ahead
You don’t have to have a day off a month in advance, holidays withstanding, but plan ahead a few days before and after to prepare to leave and come back to work. Even if you are only having a long weekend getaway, don’t make yourself feel rushed getting to your destination or coming back to work.
This might mean taking additional time off to prepare. You might need half a day to pack, grab additional supplies, or adjust to time zone differences. Whatever the case may be, make sure to take into account that a vacation is rarely a spur of the moment decision when you run a small business.
You can surely find time outside of normal business hours to get everything done, but don’t limit yourself if you need more time before or after your trip.
How to take time off work: Talk to others
When you decide to take time off from your small business, make sure others know about your plans. You might need to make arrangements with employees and coworkers or let clients know you will be out of the office for a length of time.
Everyone needs some time off eventually. If your clients are disappointed and can’t seem to fathom that you will be gone, try to placate them with either a return date, additional support from your small business, or an alternative business contact while you are away.
Hopefully, everyone will be excited as you tell them of your vacation plans, but if not, try to be accommodating and offer as much help before the trip to help ease any uneasiness that might be felt.
How to take time off work: Disconnect
Today, it is so easy to get caught up in being a button away from being contacted. Whether you're reachable through a phone call or checking social media for any reports from your employees or coworkers, you can always be connected to the office.
When you’re taking time off work, make sure you close apps or silence notifications that are associated with work. Of course, there will be the occasional emergency, but normally, there will be someone you’ve left in charge to handle things for just that reason.
If you’re able, try to leave the digital devices off during vacation. It might not be completely possible, but if you are anxious about leaving things at the office, you might try to at least have a set period, like during working hours, that your electronics are off and away from prying hands.
It’s natural to want to focus on growing your business, but it’s also natural to take a step back and enjoy yourself while you are building it.
Try to find a few ways to incorporate a vacation day or a few even if you only go so far as your front or back lawn. It’s more important that you are relaxed and rejuvenated from taking time off work than what you did during your time off.
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