I’ve just returned from an extended vacation. I was gone for 18 days. As a business owner, I’ve never been gone that long in my 25+ years. And before I left, I had a bit of an anxiety attack. What condition would the business be in when I returned?
I don’t know why, because I truly have a great team. And my assistant told me she would only call me if it was a true emergency. Luckily, she didn’t.
Now, granted, I did check in on a regular basis. But at the same time, I made sure I didn’t check-in for days at a time. And it was easy not to check my phone because I was in Europe. While I did buy a short-term international plan just in case, my boyfriend ended up using more of it than I did.
Signs for Needing a Break
It was time well spent. I knew I needed to get away because I had noticed I was getting a little “short” with my team. I was getting more and more frustrated with projects that didn’t run as smoothly as I felt they should. And I was just plain tired, exhausted really.
While I was gone, I had thought I would reflect on my business and how I wanted to improve and change it. But that didn’t happen. I did start to think about it. One day I was on a walk and started to have a conversation with myself about where my business was going and stopped dead in my tracks. I realized that it was the wrong time and place for that.
My vacation was my time to recharge and release my business brain.
Working to Live or Living to Work?
As the old adage says, “work to live, not live to work”. And I admit that many times I find myself living to work. I’m an admitted workaholic. I think most business owners are. My vacation helped me to readjust my brain to a more “work to live” focus.
Research has shown that Americans work more than anyone else in the industrialized world. And I must say after my European vacation I have to agree. I met many people that were on three to four-week holiday adventures. And they do this every year. Many I spoke with take several extended vacations a year!
If only we could figure out how to be more consistent in taking time off.
Time Off Reduces Stress
Many studies indicate that we need time away from work. We need the physical and mental break from our routines. It has been shown that people that take vacations experience lower stress, a lower risk of heart disease and are typically more motivated to achieve goals.
I made a goal at the beginning of the year to take off half days on Fridays. I think I’ve taken about 5. A few Fridays I made lunch plans with a friend to make sure I got out of the office. Unfortunately, on most of those occasions, I had to come back after lunch.
I try to think how I can be more productive or improve my time management. Unfortunately, that’s not the cause. This business is just needy. We are very customer service driven and when our clients need something., we are there making it happen. And our clients aren’t taking off Friday afternoon.
Again, I do have a great team, but lately, the issues that have come up need my attention. Or at least I think they do.
Manage Expectations
Taking time off has helped me to see that the business will move forward without me. And as I tell my account managers, it’s all about managing expectations. So, I guess I need to take my own advice and help my team and my clients understand that my expectation is to not be in the office on Friday afternoons.
Getting out of the office and turning off the phone is one key to our long-term well-being. Even on weekends, we need to put the phone down. I am notorious for picking up my phone to check emails the minute I wake up, every day. Being on vacation without daily access to my phone has helped a little in breaking that habit.
There was a discussion on the news the other morning about helping kids adjust to the new school year. One of the key elements was limiting their screen time before bed (not just now but year-round). As the anchors were discussing the issue, one anchor admitted that he didn’t sleep as well when he was checking social media or emails prior to bed.
Turn Off the Electronics
It’s obvious to me that our brains are telling us it needs the break!
I have one friend that doesn’t look at or answer her phone after 8 pm (unless it’s family of course). That’s her time to spend with her husband and enjoy her evening. It’s a great suggestion.
I admit, I’m not there yet, but when I got up this morning and reached for my phone, I stopped myself. Now, I did look at it before I got to the office, but I was up at least an hour before I did so. Progress while slow is still progress.
My vacation showed me that my weekends need to be more vacation-like. Our clients don’t expect me to respond on the weekend, so why am I checking my phone?
Is it time for you to disconnect more often?
Danette Gossett is the founder of Gossett Marketing, co-founder of Promotions Rescource LLC and co-author of the best-selling book “Transform” with Brian Tracy. Danette utilizes her more than 30 years of advertising agency and corporate marketing experience to develop effective promotional campaigns and products for her clients. Visit GossettMktg.com or SalesPromo.org and follow us on twitter @MarketngTidbits.