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How
to Survive a Business Vacation
by Donna Schwartz
Mills, TheParentPrenuerClub
Last Monday morning, I braced myself for
a deluge of email. I had not switched on my computer for three days
and just knew I would have a couple of hundred emails.
I was wrong. There were 486.
That afternoon, our postal carrier left a basket of mail that must
have weighed a couple of pounds.
'I need a vacation,' I muttered to myself. But that was the problem.
Monday was my first day back from one, and I vowed I would never
take another.
I eventually came to my senses, but I still tend to think of time
away from business with a mix of excitement and dread. After all,
those who work outside the home usually have co-workers who can
cover for them when they are away.
Yet, the Los Angeles Times reports that 40% of workers keep in
touch with their employers while on vacation. 'But that can get
in the way of the fun and stress reduction vacationers are seeking,'
the Times notes.
It's worse for home based entrepreneurs, who tend to be one-person
shops. Imagine the orders, customer service calls and income opportunities
we miss by being away from our posts for a week.
But vacations are as necessary as lunch (you do take a break for
lunch, don't you?) Vacations allow us to recharge our mental batteries,
resulting in increased energy and creativity -- not to mention keeping
burn-out at bay. The trick to taking the time you need and coming
home smoothly is in how you prepare your business for your absence.
Here are some tips:
1. Communication is Key
Two weeks before a vacation, Angela Strosnider of Virtual Office
and Business Solutions announces it to her clients, relatives and
others. 'I take the laptop and check for any emergency mails as
well. Besides that I make an autorespond message to all emails about
when I'll return,' she says.
You need to communicate with your customers when you get back as
well, especially when email replies have been delayed for a few
days due to your absence. 'People are understanding if you offer
a reason for the long wait,' says Terri Seymour of http://www.websuccesscentral.com
2. Give Yourself a Window to Catch Up
'I've always thought that I should extend my vacation by two days
when telling others,' says Roberta Stubblefield of The
Mom Team. 'That way I can use the two days to catch up on everything
with the answering machine on, then be ready to start out fresh.'
3. Consider Hiring a Backup
A virtual assistant could be the answer to your vacation prayers,
notes Kristie Lemauga, who happens to be the VA at KKS
Administrative. Kristie suggests that by forwarding your email
to a live person instead of using an autoresponder, your customers
can have their needs handled in a personal manner. Kristie says
that A VA can also 'process any orders, info requests, data entry,
and unsubscribes while you are away, take phone calls for your business,
prepare your calendar for your return, and assist with administrative
tasks ... so you can catch up in the areas that require your personal
attention.'
4. Make a Playdate for the Kids
As much as we love our children (and for many of us, they are the
reason we are working at home in the first place), they can also
be a distraction. You'll catch up faster upon your return if they're
having fun outside the house. Terri Seymour arranges an overnight
visit with their grandparents, but taking them to a playdate at
the home of a trusted friend may give you all the time you need
to focus on your work. (Just be sure your friend knows you'll return
the favor soon!)
5. ENJOY YOUR TIME OFF!
Remember that you need your vacation! As Angela Strosnider says,
'Working at home is a 24/7 job just like any other when you add
a house and family. Take a personal time-out with you and your loved
ones, and you will feel much better about working so much later.'
Donna Schwartz Mills writes
about the specific needs of work at home parents at her website,
The
ParentPreneur Club, "For Parents Who Want Choices, Not
Office Politics." Tools tips and advice you need to help grow
your home based business while raising a family. Subscribe to our
weekly newsletter by clicking here.
Find out how we're getting healthy while earning a healthy living
at home - http://www.unitoday.net/socalmom
Copyright 2004
by Donna Schwartz
Mills .
Reproduction without permission prohibited.
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