The Alternative Press

We all know the feeling – Memorial Day Weekend comes around and we automatically switch into summer mode. The kids are out of school and they are begging to go on a summer vacation. It may seem difficult to plan a summer vacation in the midst of a busy work schedule, but it is possible even for the small business owner. Taking a vacation is not only good for yourself emotionally and mentally, but it is also beneficial for your business. It allows you time to relax and clear your mind, while also leading to a “post-vacation productivity boost.”  So step away from your computer and Blackberry for a few days and think about anything but the work you have to do. It may seem frightening but it is possible! Here are a few tips to help you out:

1. Take a look at your calendar. When you begin planning your vacation, take a look at both your work calendar and your family calendar to see when the best possible time is to go. Do you have a big project or meeting at the end of August?  Heading out of town the week before a critical deadline would not be optimal. Scheduling a vacation when you know your workload will be light will help eliminate a lot of stress and help balance out the amount of work you are faced with when you return.

2. Alert people ahead of time. Once you plan your vacation, alert those you work with of your impending schedule. Give them ample opportunity to take care of anything that may require your assistance so they are not scrambling while you are out of the office. Set an out-of-office message on your email and possibly even change your voicemail on your phone.  Let people know when you will be out of the office and that you will be back in-touch once you return.

3. If necessary, allocate time.  Maybe it is virtually impossible for you to completely step away from your work while you are on vacation.  If this is the case, allocate an hour or so each day that you will allow yourself to catch up on emails. Let your co-workers know that you will be near a computer during that time if anything critical comes up. However, once that time is up – it’s back to the beach!

4. Accept help from others. Does it seem like your to-do list is filled with little tasks that need to get done? Utilize the help of others while you are away. If crossing off some of those tasks will help alleviate your stress, seek help from your coworkers. It will be refreshing to come back to a smaller to-do list!

5. Designate someone as your emergency backup. You should ask someone to be your backup for emergencies. This person’s phone number and email address should be included on all “out of office” emails as well as your voicemail message.  Be sure they have a reach number for you if a serious situation should arise.  Remember proper planning will ensure your vacation is enjoyable and stress free!

I liked to thank Caroline Ryder for preparing this article with me. Caroline recently graduated from Mount St. Mary's University majoring in Business with a concentration in Marketing. Don’t forget, you can email me at Peggy@Consultants2Go.com with any questions you might have and I’ll be glad to answer them.  You can also follow me and my business on Twitter @peggymchale and @consultants2go.