Working during the summer holidays can be a challenging and somewhat daunting task for many working families, especially those who are self-employed. Juggling the 24/7 demands of running your own business alongside the needs of your family is often a recipe made up of disrupted working patterns and a big dash of guilt. On the flip side, the lure for many of freedom and relaxation is so strong they find themselves struggling to stay productive. With a bit of organisation and self-control, it is definitely possible to stay productive, keep on top of your business AND your family duties whilst still enjoying the holiday season. Read on for my top tips for time management and healthy boundaries to help make the most of your summer working experience – whatever your situation.
First things first – your holiday booking process (if you have a team)
When it comes to booking leave for your team, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. First and foremost, you need to make sure that everyone is on the same page. All too often, people book their holidays without consulting their colleagues which can lead to problems with project delivery, gaps in vital customer service or financial responsibilities such as payroll and invoicing. Discuss your plans with your team early and try to come to an agreement about when everyone will take their holidays so you avoid any obvious breaks in service, or have time to bring in extra temporary support.
I always recommend business owners book at least one long holiday per year so you have a proper break from the business, (something I did for the first time properly this year). To keep things operating smoothly for my team while I am away, we use the project management tool Click Up. This allows us to book leave throughout the year and align the deliverables or deadlines of our key projects whilst building in sufficient time for any handovers. You can read more about my thoughts on taking a break from your business here.
Second – Create SOPs for work that your team can cover while you’re away
You know that SOPs will always get a mention in my blog at least once! Having documented work procedures makes it so much easier for someone else in the team to cover for another team member if they have taken leave. If you have not already done so, I recommend taking some time to do this – It will save you heaps of time in the long run, not only with managing absence but with onboarding new team members too. If you need some tips to get started, check out my blog all about SOPs, Policies and Procedures HERE.
Third – You’ve got the processes and systems set up, now let’s look at boundaries
When you are working from home, it’s easy at the best of times to see your work and non-work life cross over into one another – and this is especially true in the summer holidays when there are so many distractions! So, it’s important to create boundaries between your work and personal life so that you can genuinely enjoy your time off without feeling guilty. Try to block out regular working hours over the holiday period (even if these are different to your non-holiday working hours) and stick to them as much as possible. Turn off your work phone and email notifications outside of these hours and make sure that you take some time each day to relax and do something that you enjoy. If you can stick to these boundaries, you will find it much easier to stay productive and focused during the summer months!
Finally – the importance of an effective CEO Morning Routine
According to a recent blog by Forbes and as the CEO of my own growing business, I’ve found that having a morning routine that sets me up for success each day is an absolute must. This may look different for everyone, especially if you have kids at home for the school holidays, but there are a few key things that I think should be included, whatever the time of year:
- Take ten minutes to plan your day first thing in the morning. Make a list of what needs to be done and try to stick to it as far as possible. Don’t set expectations that are too high. Make it achievable.
- Make sure that you are taking care of your physical and mental health. Eat a healthy breakfast, take a short bit of exercise, and take some time to relax and clear your mind before you hit your to-do list.
- Finally, put aside 30 minutes to connect with your team. Whether this is through a daily stand-up meeting or just a quick round-robin message over Slack. Staying connected with your team is essential for success. Try to do it at the same time each day to add some consistency to the sometimes-erratic nature of the holidays.
Following these tips should help you to survive running your own business during the summer holidays! Time management and boundaries are crucial, but as long as you are organised and respect your own time, you will be able to get things done and still enjoy these few weeks. So go forth and make the most of your summer working experience!
Do you have any other tips for surviving working in the summer holidays? Let us know in the comments!
If you’re struggling to organise your business or find the space and energy to implement these tips, then why not book into one of my 90-minute strategy sessions to help you get started – a laser-focused deep-dive into your business where I work with you to find workable solutions for the issues that are holding you back. You can book your session online now.
