06 Aug Small business owners: there are benefits to taking a break
I have a message for small business owners: take a break! Yes, you! As we approach the end of the summer (how did that happen?!), take a moment to think back to the days when the weather was just starting to get nicer. Did you tell yourself you would take time away this summer to enjoy time outdoors with friends and family? Did you promise yourself you’d wrap things up early on a few Fridays here and there and allow yourself to spend a few hours in the sun instead of at the computer? Lastly, did you make that happen? If, not there’s still time to reap the benefits of taking a break.
The business owner struggle is real
If you’re hesitant to step away from work, you’re not alone. Studies show that most business owners are hesitant to leave their business unattended for more than 24 hours, and research done by the Center for Creative Leadership found that the average business owner works 72 hours per week. I wrote last month about spending one week with my newborn before returning to work. The struggle is so real for us business owners, especially when we have additional responsibilities to family and our community outside of the office.
For many of us, at least part of the appeal of entrepreneurship is the ability to create your own schedule and do things your way. But as a business owner, when you’re running the ship, you also take on much more responsibility. The health of your company and, if you have employees, the ability to get paychecks to them, falls on your shoulders. The weight of that can make stepping away feel almost impossible. Here’s why you should make it happen anyway, and how taking a break can benefit you and your business long-term.
Take a break to recharge your body – and your brain
We’re entrepreneurs, not superheroes – though it is fun to imagine what a superhero bookkeeper’s outfit would look like! You might tell yourself that you can power through and continue working around the clock until everything gets done. But let’s be honest, there will always be more work, and pushing yourself without breaks will eventually catch up with you. Then, you’ll be facing health issues on top of everything else. A few days of mental and physical rest will provide the reboot you need. When you return to work, you’ll likely find you are coming back with more energy, better focus, and a refreshed, positive outlook.
Empower your team
If you’ve already added one or more employees to your team, you have realized the value of delegation. As the owner of a growing business, you’ll realize quickly that you simply cannot do everything yourself. Stepping away from the office is a great way to empower your team to take ownership of their roles and give them a chance to shine. You’ll also get a realistic sense of how your business functions when you’re away, and what changes may need to be made to improve your processes in the future. I know it can be scary to leave your business in the hands of someone else. Check out some tips here for how to trust employees with responsibilities while also protecting yourself.
What if you can’t take a break because the business can’t run without you? Consider taking a few responsibilities off of your plate. If you’re not able to hire an employee yet, what can you outsource? You’ll likely find that the time you save by handing off just a few tasks to someone who can do them more efficiently and effectively is well worth the cost of outsourcing them. After all, time is not a renewable resource.
See things differently
One of the best ways to unlock new ideas is to break out of your normal routine. I’m not telling you to travel to an exotic destination or do something “Instagram-worthy” with your time off. Simply deviating from your day-to-day schedule and getting out of the office can allow you to get creative in a way that isn’t possible when you’re bogged down in day-to-day tasks. Just make sure you write all those great ideas down!
You may also find that taking a break from work will allow you to look at problems with a fresh perspective. Many times, setting those issues aside completely for a period of time allows you to return with a clear mind and more ideas for a solution.
Reflect and plan for the future
You may feel inspired to make plans for the future once you take a step away from everyday work. Just make sure you take the time to reflect, too. Pause for a moment, look back on how far you’ve come, and remember why you wanted to start the journey of entrepreneurship in the first place. After all, you work hard to afford breaks like these – so take the time to enjoy it!
