Today’s blog post is going to be a bit different as I’ll be talking to you about being able to take time off in your business.
I just got back from a week long vacation, so no other better time than now to talk about the steps that I took to make the entire week all about taking time for myself and my family. Not once did I even open my laptop… Yes, I did take it with me as a bit of a security blanket, you know “just in case”. But guess what, it was OK…. I never once felt the need or desire to even check in. OH…And best of all…. I came back to a smooth and typical week, without the chaos of problems or trying to catch up. I account all of this to proper planning and the systems I have put in place over the past few years.
Of course I can’t help but share one of the amazing family pics we got while we were away!
My question for you is…. Are you able to do this too? When was the last time that you completely stepped away from your business? Keep reading on and I’ll share with you a few steps to help you make this happen.
First, you need to plan. Proper planning is super important! Looking ahead at what you have planned for not only the time while you’re away, but also the following week is crucial to not coming back to a complete sh!t show full of last minute deadlines and catch up work!
As you look into future planning, start delegating all of these tasks out to your team members. Don’t have a team…. No problem. Just begin working these tasks into the 2 weeks prior to your time away. Of course, it is super important not to have any project deadlines or new clients starting during this time, so keep that in mind.
Secondly, make sure that you let everyone (clients and team members) know in advance that you’ll be away. This will avoid any confusion when someone sends you a message and doesn’t get a response from you. It will also cut down the amount of messages that you actually get. Additionally, consider adding an auto-response to your email system that will let anyone who emails you know that you’re away.
Alright, so now you planned and prepped…. It is time for your systems to be put into practice.
Each task that you’ve delegated should already have a process documented that is easy to follow. You should also have weekly routines that you follow so that you know what to expect each week. For me, blog posting, social media scheduling, and even my retainer client work was reviewed, pre-planned and delegated prior to me leaving.
Having these systems and processes in place outlined a clear plan for me to follow. I wasn’t second guessing or forgetting about this or that while I was away. I knew it was all handled and I was able to actually take my mind completely off of my business. Talk about an amazing way to relax and recharge!
If you’re still a 1-person show…. You can still get systems in place so that you can easily plan ahead and know what to expect. Then in the future, you’ve already built a foundation to help you easily delegate to your first team member.
If you’ve got a team… having these systems in place takes you out of the equation. Everyone knows their role and how and when they should be doing it. If you still find that it’s difficult to get away, then maybe it’s time you found an Online Business Manager to join your team.
Systems take out the guesswork!
I know that getting systems in place can be tricky to do. Feel free to send me a DM and we can chat about what you may need to be able to enjoy an uninterrupted week away…. Systems are my specialty! 😉
Ready to take action – Book a Systems Strategy Session
Lynda is a Certified Online Business Manager and Systems Strategist. She loves working with her clients to eliminate the overwhelm and get back to loving their businesses by streamlining their business systems and processes.
Lynda was a stay at home mom to 3 kids under the age of 5 while being the right hand to her husband in his business. As they went on to school, she followed and began working at their elementary school while still helping her husband. When her children went on to middle and high school, she left the elementary school and began working as a VA to online entrepreneurs. This quickly transformed into more as she began noticing a consistent gap (which was something she excelled at) and began implementing the systems and processes in her clients businesses that they needed to help their days run more smoothly.
Lynda knew that she had finally found what she was meant to do- Make an impact in other business owners’ lives by getting them back hours in their week so they could have more time with their families and still have successful businesses.
Ready to start loving your business again? Get started by sign up for one of her super helpful free resources here.
