As a business owner, you decide when to work and when to take time off. A break or a holiday can help you recharge and renew your focus and energy, but finding the time for one can be hard. Here are some ideas that might help.
Contact customers early
Spread the word that you’re going to be away—depending on your business, you could do this with things like social media posts, direct calls or posters in your shop. It’ll help set expectations, build your relationships and show you have your customers’ best interests at heart.
It might mean you fulfil some orders early or ask someone you trust to step in. It might also reduce the chance of a last-minute request delaying your departure.
Schedule what you can
Look at scheduling social media posts and emails in advance if you can. If you’re an existing CommBank customer with a Business Transaction Account, you can also get alerts for when your account balance is low, high or you’ve just been paid. Try not to schedule anything major right before or during your holiday though, to mitigate the potential of any hiccups.
Go offline or manage remotely
Decide whether you’ll still check your emails or completely disconnect. If you disconnect, setting an out-of-office message can help manage expectations about when you’ll reply. You can also list an emergency contact in case something does go wrong.
If you'd rather stay connected, consider dedicating a specific amount of time each day for work so you can enjoy the rest of your holiday and return refreshed.
Delegate what you can
Taking a break is a good opportunity to upskill any staff and expand their responsibilities. When you come back, you may find that they can continue and you have more time to focus on other priorities.
If you don’t have staff, you may wish to consider asking someone you trust to manage anything essential while you’re away. If you’re a plumber, for example, it could mean having a friend in the trade on standby just in case one of your customers has an emergency.
Accept there may never be a perfect time for a holiday
It may feel like there’s never a good time to take time off. Be realistic about when you can actually go, but also make sure you’re not putting off a holiday for things that will always be a part of your business’ day-to-day running.
