What I Learned from Being in a Season of Doing Less

The podcast is back from summer break! I have been learning how to take life slower these past few months, and I’m excited to share my takeaways with you! It’s been important to me that I figure out how to run my business in a way that supports my life, instead of scheduling life around business.

One big step that I took towards doing this is taking a one week vacation from client work – just for the pure enjoyment of it! So let’s chat about what I learned. I’ve also got some tips for you if you’d like to take more time off from your business.

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3 Things I Learned from This Season

#1: Making more time for life doesn’t have to be hard.

I think sometimes we feel like being more present in our lives has to be complicated. We seek the perfect work-life balance, or wait until we’re ready to take a long sabbatical. But one thing I’ve realized is that it’s okay to start small.

Here’s a simple example:

One day, I got up a little earlier than usual. Only a few of the tasks on my to-do list needed to get done urgently. So, I knocked out those priority tasks. Then, I went for a walk with my mom and my dog. When we got back, I finished the rest of my work.

That small decision allowed me to fit exercise and quality time into my day. Sometimes, we just need to remind ourselves that the to-do list can wait!

#2: You can take a week away from your biz without things completely falling apart.

The week that I’m recording this episode, I just got back from taking a week off from doing client work. I’ve never really taken an extended vacation from my business just for the fun of it. And guess what? Nothing fell apart while I was gone! For a long time, I was afraid of being unavailable to clients. But everyone survived just fine.

Now, I do think it’s important to prepare wisely for time off. I specifically chose a week on my calendar where I wasn’t actively working on a client website, and didn’t have any big events happening. I’ll talk more about preparing for time off when we get to the tips!

#3: Be flexible and realistic about what makes sense for you.

If you’re able, I think it’s important to be flexible about what your time off will look like. Obviously, if you’re planning a vacation where you have to reserve a hotel, flights, etc. you have to be more strict about when you’ll be off.

But since this was my first time doing this, I ended up making a lot of changes to my original plan. For example, I ended up changing the dates that I would be taking off several times due to client projects needed to be rescheduled and a family trip getting cancelled.

When it comes to being realistic, I think it’s important to set work boundaries that are attainable for you. For example, I allowed myself to think about work and check in on Instagram, but I tried to be mindful of how often. I knew that if I tried to quit those things “cold turkey,” I’d likely be disappointed.

4 Tips for Preparing for Time Off in Your Business

#1: Plan ahead (calendar-wise and financially)

Once you put something on the calendar, you’re more likely to stick to it! So don’t just say you’re going to take some time off – write it down. Even though I was taking a staycation, I put it on the calendar and told family and friends about my plan for accountability.

It’s also wise to plan for your time-off financially, especially if you’re a service provider. Having a time off means that you probably won’t generate income (or will generate less). To plan for this, I saved up money so that I would still be able to pay myself and cover expenses.

(To learn more about how I manage my business finances, check out my podcast episode on Profit First.)

#2: Be proactive – what needs to be done before you can take time off?

I was intentional about thinking ahead so that I could take a step back from my business with systems and plans in place.

Here are several things that I did so that I could take time off:

• Completed tasks for an upcoming launch
• Batching content
• Letting clients know
• Putting on email auto-responder with an FAQ section
• Updating my meeting calendar availability

#3: Consider setting limits on your email and social media use.

Like I mentioned earlier, I didn’t have strict boundaries when it came to thinking about work or getting on Instagram. But I did try to set realistic limits and be mindful. For example, I checked my email about 1-3 times per day, and if nothing was urgent, I closed it right away.

Some entrepreneurs prefer to take a complete sabbatical from social media, so that’s something to consider! While I haven’t done this yet, I might give it a try! Also, if you have a VA, you can have them check your email while you’re away.

#4: Remember this: “Rest is productive, stillness brings clarity.”

When I interviewed therapist Lea Lester, she shared the saying “rest is productive, stillness brings clarity.” That really stuck with me, and it’s something that I reminded myself of several times during my vacation.

If you’re a recovering workaholic like me, it might feel hard to step back from your business. But I hope this quote helps you remember that there’s purpose in rest, too.

Other Episodes You Might Like

• Episode 2 – Embracing the Hygge Lifestyle with Ida
• Episode 5 – How to Recognize and Shift from Self-Improvement Burnout with Lea