Taking a day off or even going on vacation can be a major challenge for a home business owner. Even though we may appreciate the increased flexibility in the day-to-day activities of our business, getting everything organized so that we can take some time off can be daunting. It is not like a traditional job where we can just walk away and know there will be others to cover things while we are off on vacation. In fact, I find that I have to plan ahead and make preparations if I am going to take two days off in a row.
I know that there are home businesses that are more challenging and less time consuming than mine. Since I have been working to build my business over the past few years, it becomes harder and harder for me to just take impromptu time off. I really have to plan for it and make sure that things can be covered while I am away—even if I am just spending the day at the park.
If you are in a similar boat, you have likely learned how to give yourself some lead time and let those people who need to know in on the fact that you will be away from work. You may even have to do work in advance so that your off days will be covered. This can mean a heavier workload prior to taking a few days off than you would normally have and this can add extra stress. I find that the important thing is to set reasonable expectations for myself and to give myself permission to just let things go at some point. I can only do so much when I am planning in advance for time off and then I just have to relax and try to have a good time NOT working.