Self-Employment & Vacation/Holiday

[deltav]

Being self employed can be a blessing & a curse. Making your own schedule is fantastic, but on the flipside time away from work is time spent not making money - try as you might it can be hard to mentally just "leave it in the office" during your time off.

Got an upcoming vacation for a couple weeks, dates were planned a while ago. But it coincides with me being right in the middle of several projects, including some that've dragged on way longer than expected - didn't intend on that obviously, just how things worked out. At this point I really *should* be working thru that time period, but it's too late. It'll be fine, but I'm not going to be able to fully relax with all that crap on the back burner...

And seems like every time I go off the grid for more than a day or two, when I get back into civilization my inbox & voicemail are invariably filled with some crisis or glitch or whatnot that never happens all the days I'm actually in the office. Just part of the package when you run a paysite as a one man show I guess, but it'd be nice to spend a week lounging at a beachside hut Corona in hand somewhere in the tropics without having to worry about that shit.

It easy enough to say "it'll all be there when you get back, just let it go", harder to actually follow thru. Anyone else have trouble disengaging on your time off? Any tricks for doing it better?

[Herb Kornfield]

I am usually in the same position on every vacation.

Take 2 weeks off: Then week 1 everyone realizes you are out and leaves you alone to enjoy 1 quiet week.

[_Richard_]

terrible time disengaging..

find myself desperately needing to go camping with no electronics about the same time ever year lol

[Sly]

Any tricks for doing it better?

Create systems that allow your business to run without you at the helm every minute of the day. Everyone wants to think that this is not possible, but they are wrong. It's totally possible, plus will make your life AND business better.

[The Heron]

Take a laptop?

[deltav]

Take a laptop?

Sure, when possible. I like my vacations off the grid though, i.e. no cell or internet service anywhere nearby. Even with the laptop, there's something to be said for not having to check in with your job for a week or two.

Create systems that allow your business to run without you at the helm every minute of the day. Everyone wants to think that this is not possible, but they are wrong. It's totally possible, plus will make your life AND business better.

Yeah, I don't doubt you're correct on both counts. But it's daunting - where does one start? I've got a bit automated, but it's more the cust service & sudden tech issues that cause trouble. I swear, things run smoothly for the rest of the year then as soon as I'm on a tropical beach or sipping bourbon in front of a cabin fireplace, that's when the shit hits the fan.

[Tom_PM]

It's hard to take time off. I worked only for a few hours last Sunday, but it got me behind. I just caught up in fact. I treat myself on weekends by sleeping late and not logging onto Trillian unless requested basically. Vacation though? whew.. I don't remember how to do that thing.

[kane]

Unless I am actually going somewhere special I normally just take a few extra off and take short 3-4 day vacations. I will do this several times a year as a way to keep the batteries charged and keep from getting burned out.

[Rochard]

Take the laptop and keep on working. I took my laptop to Hawaii with me. I got up early, worked in the afternoon when I could, and then at night also.

[Klen]

Unless I am actually going somewhere special I normally just take a few extra off and take short 3-4 day vacations. I will do this several times a year as a way to keep the batteries charged and keep from getting burned out.

Yeah,it is better to take several short vacations then one big one.

[xNetworx]

Take the laptop and keep on working. I took my laptop to Hawaii with me. I got up early, worked in the afternoon when I could, and then at night also.

[DamianJ]

Tell clients you are going away. Go away. Fairly simple.