Hey hey there! Just popping in to let you know that this is a pre-scheduled blog post! That’s because our team is currently on a two-week holiday break and we’ll be back in January 2022 🥳 But we recognize that not everyone does take a break for the holidays. Maybe taking a holiday break from your business would be an absolute dream, but you can’t figure out how to do it. 

That’s why I want to share our best tips for taking a holiday break. And that means no answering emails, Voxxers, or texts. This is how we all fully step away for two weeks to enjoy Christmas and New Years’ time, even as a full-service agency and 7-figure business. 

First I’d like to start with the why: 

To Prevent Burnout 🔥

It’s best to take preventative measures against burnout rather than fix it after it’s set in. Because after it sets in. It is infinitely harder to take a break and fix it.

I like to think of these breaks the same way I think about cleaning my house. Every once in a while, there’s a deep cleaning day. Because you can deep clean every day, you mostly tidy every day. Think of your holiday break as the deep cleaning day. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s sooooo worth it. 

Work-Life Balance

Work and life balance is one of my key values. My team and I enjoy our work, but we also know it’s important to enjoy LIFE and family and self outside of work. We can do that by prioritizing our goals and setting time aside for joy. 

Space Sparks Inspiration

Time apart is a healthy part of pretty much anything in life. When you’re always “on” it can be easy to fall into a routine and use all your mental energy to get through the day. But a holiday break can invoke inspiration 🤩 

My team and I always come back from break with renewed energy and new ideas. Breaks are a great way to make sure you and your teammates stay fresh ready for whatever the future brings. 

So Nice You Do it Twice

Fun Fact: We take a break twice a year! We take two weeks off for the holidays and two weeks off in the summertime. A refresh every 6 months has served us well! And if we can do it, you can do it. 

And here’s how you can do it too:

Pick your “break weeks” and set them in stone. 

Period. No if-ands-or-buts. No zoom calls and no meetings. And don’t let anyone schedule anything in the middle of your holiday break just because “It’ll only take 15 mins, pleaaaaaaaaaaaseee.” Plan your business AROUND this time, with no exceptions. Hold on to those boundaries.

That means before you go on break you have to:

• Reschedule any recurring calls 
• Keep your break time free of any live launch plans 
• Let your students know that there won’t be any live teaching or delivery during this time
• Block off your schedule to keep anyone from booking calls with you during that time

If inspiration strikes, keep it to yourself until you’re back “in office”. 

This holiday break time is very important to your team members. If you’ve promised time off, then you want to keep your word. And hey, as the business owner, if you love working, and you have the inspiration to get some work done, go ahead and do it*. You’re in charge of your break, you can do whatever you want with it. Just make sure that you do that independently, with no clients, students, or team members involved at all in that time.

*You can write down the occasional bright idea when they come, but your rest is important too. I challenge you to work as little as possible, for the sake of refreshing your work brain!

Pre-schedule your marketing. 

There are schedulers for absolutely everything nowadays. From blog posts to podcasts, social media, and emails, it can all run without you. Schedule everything you need to post for the next two weeks before you take your break. 

Pro tip: Remember to turn on your autoresponder. That way any emails that hit your inbox get a response and let people know when to expect you back.

Let clients and leads know in advance AND during your break. 

That way your break is a line they cannot cross 🙅🏽‍♀️ Even with retainer clients, if you let them know when you’ll be out of the office ahead of time, they can plan for your absence (and may likely be happy for you!). Place a notice on your lead form letting people know they can expect to hear from you when you return. You won’t have to worry about losing a lead if you communicate with them.  

Opportunity will still be here when you get back. 

Drop the FOMO 👋🏽 This break is priority number one, and you should treat it that way. Consider this break as an investment in yourself. Therefore an investment in yourself is an investment in your business’s longevity and sustainability. 

Now that our holiday break tips are all laid out in writing, I hope you can see how doable it is to take two weeks off twice a year. And I want you to remember how necessary it is. You started your business to get more freedom, more time for yourself, and more time with your loved ones. You’re in charge now. Remember to give yourself that time. Happy Holidays! ❤️