Leaders, driven by both pride in their work and steady investment in moving vision to fruition, often find It to be a challenge to take a break and step away from “the work”. They often work late into the evening, over the weekends and during their “vacations”, if they even take them. Emerging workplace pressures and stressors often further challenge comfort in taking time away from work.
It’s not uncommon for leaders to lend more attention and care to those with whom they serve, leaving attention to themselves last (if ever), adversely compromising their long-term health – physical, mental, and social.
Entrepreneurs and small business owners share the same challenge, only with heightened pressure in assuming sole responsibility for the success of their business.
As I prepare for my first vacation celebrating one full year as a solopreneur (blessed, fulfilled and gratified), I’ve been thoughtful in purposefully crafting the harmony of a gratifying vacation- maximizing my time away from “work” for my well-being, while minimally keeping a pulse on my business.
Infusing the paradigm for my Coaching and Counseling, here’s how I’m approaching vacation:
• Identify the purpose of my vacation – what impact (short-term and long-term) do I want this vacation to have on me/my well-being and my business? How do I want to be feeling during and after the vacation?
• Design the harmony of my vacation in alignment with the purpose of my vacation- Creating the conditions to support the impact I desire of my vacation.
o An essential mindset- the locus of control rests with me- I have the agency to create the vacation I want and need
o A vacation mantra- “Prioritize peace in the present” a phrase I’ve adopted from both a coaching client and a networking colleague
o Identify my “Hell Yes”s and “Hell No”s- what I will/will not do on vacation
o Block days in my calendar prior to vacation to wrap up identified “must dos” before vacation and feel comfortable to lay all of the rest to rest until I am back
o Establish specific hours for checking and responding to business emails and phone calls
o Update calendar to reflect availability for work related activity
o Set up “away” vacation messages on e-mail, Revise voicemail message as necessary
o Be specific about any work I will do (I will be in Arizona so it creates great opportunity for images and videos, as well as creative space for blogging)
o Activities
Create vacation bucket list of related active and passive/chill activities aligned with my vacation purpose/my “why”
Prioritize a digital sabbatical- be purposeful to leave my phone on the charger or in airplane mode to remove temptation to quickly look for messages (Especially when others around me are on their phone)- Detach!
Create accountability strategies- Tell others my plan; Set timer to hold myself accountable to time restrictions for “work”
Plan for journaling as means to:
o Notice what’s better for my well-being because of the vacation and vacation boundaries
o Replicate meaningful vacation strategies into my daily rhythms
o Plan accordingly to have the necessary inputs for my activities
Limit what work related items I pack
Pack items for the activities that I enjoy – reading materials, puzzles, knitting, workout supplies, etc.
Prepare business and personal payments for simply dropping at the mailbox
A journal and pen
Bring my swag- water bottle and bottle bands swag as reminders of my commitment to my vacation purpose and harmony
How about you? I would love to hear from other business owners and leaders about your strategies for maximizing your vacation experience for personal and professional harmony.
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