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How to Take Time Off When You’re a Small Business Owner
Alyson Scott • Nov 15, 2021
10 Tips to Organize Your Business, So You Can Take Time Off
- Schedule your vacation during the slowest time of the year. Most businesses have a natural lull when sales are a bit slower. Consider making it an annual time when you are away every year. Long-term clients will get to know the hours, and you will get used to booking work around your time off.
- Delegate! Pass off work throughout the year, well before you plan to take time off, so you are confident that the job will be done well while you are away.
- Get support on your side. If your business is growing and you have staff, rely on them to steer the ship while you're away. If you are a solo entrepreneur and business is booming, maybe it’s time to outsource. (A virtual assistant can help with many business tasks and is a great way to get a little back up without the expense of a full-time staff!)
- Let your clients know ahead of time. Give the heads up that you will be away. People understand the importance of taking time to rest and will probably be more supportive than you expect.
- Create systems within your business. Having processes set for daily activities make it easier for those tasks to be completed by someone else.
- Leverage the power of technology. What can you automate within your business? Consider tools such as Calendly to automatically book your calendar, customer management software such as Dubsado, social media tools such as Later to schedule content or email software like Mailchimp for automated sales campaigns and regular newsletters.
- Schedule your time off when booking new clients. Let people know when you will be away and give deadlines that align with your time off.
- Practice with small breaks. If you aren’t comfortable taking an extended vacation, practice with small spurts during the day.
- Unplug during your vacation. Turn on your out-of-office and avoid the temptation to check in too often. If you are going to check-in, schedule a time and give yourself a time limit.
- Name a go-to person. Who will act in charge while you are away? They should be the one you contact, and everyone else should be directed to your go-to.
It is possible to be a small business owner who takes regular time away from their business. With a bit of planning, organization, and automation, you can too!
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Save Time by Delegating Tasks to a Virtual Assistant. As a small business owner, there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done! Your time is precious, and not all tasks are created equally. Say goodbye to these top 6 time wasters for entrepreneurs so that you can focus on the most critical areas of your business. 6 Biggest Time Wasters for Entrepreneurs: 1. Meetings. Whether you meet with clients, vendors or employees, prioritize and respect your time. Does it need to be a full meeting, or would a quick call or email do the trick? Look for other, easier ways to communicate. And if you need a face-to-face or virtual meeting, set a boundary beforehand as to how much time you have to dedicate. 2. Online Distractions. Getting swept up in social media, checking your email, or reading texts can be a big distraction and time waster. Setting times to sort through your emails and messages can help you focus on the task at hand. 3. Routine and Repetitive Tasks. Not all tasks are created equally. What jobs can only YOU do in your business, and which tasks can you delegate? Try keeping a list for a week or two, jotting down all the things you do in a day, then look it over and see what tasks are eating up your time that could be passed off. 4. Outdated Tools. Using the right tool for the job can save you time and energy. A few of our favourite tools are Calendly and Acuity for scheduling meetings, Dubsado for customer management, and Mailchimp for email marketing. 5. Lack of Strategy and Systems. Does it feel like you’re spinning your wheels and not making any progress? Creating a strategy for growth with measurable goals will help create a clear direction in your business. While systems and routines help you make the most of your time by ensuring you are as efficient and productive as possible. 6. Overthinking and Second Guessing. One of our biggest time wasters as entrepreneurs (and a significant factor in holding ourselves back!) is second-guessing our actions, overthinking, and not taking chances. Once you’ve done the research, don’t be afraid to jump in! Second-guessing yourself, your choices, and your abilities will only you back. How a Virtual Assistant Can Help Save You Time Take on the repetitive tasks that consume your time and take you away from the work only YOU can do. Set you up with systems and strategies to help run your business as efficiently and effectively as possible. Introduce you to tools and new technologies to help make your life easier. Run interference with clients and vendors, so you only take on the necessary meetings and calls. You didn't become an entrepreneur to work 24/7 – be sure you aren't giving more of your time to your business than you need to. Say no to some of these big time wasters and set yourself up for success! Check out a list of what a Virtual Assistant can do for you! If there’s anything we can do to help you save time (so you can get back to your LIFE), reach out here .
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