When Was Your Last 'Real' Holiday?

For this trip. I made the conscious decision to completely switch off – no emails, no checking of social media unless it was to post about the Hawks.

Now whilst I'm not tethered to my phone – I can easily put it down and switch off – but usually when I'm on 'holidays', I still check emails and social media.

As I'm a very transparent person and believing in practising what I preach in my presentations and with my coaching clients, my email auto response informed everyone ....

✅ where I was

✅ why I was unavailable – that it was a CHOICE to be disconnected

✅ where they could find more information about me including social media and working with me

✅ how to book a chat with me upon my return

✅ and to please text me if it was urgent eg "I need help right now" or "I want you to speak at my event and need to know right now"

Can you guess what happened?

Of course you can!

The world didn't end (shock horror) and people followed my instructions by booking in appointments and connecting with me on social media.

I got a text from one of my wonderful clients with brilliant news and that's exactly the call I wanted to return.

So let me share my own holiday reflections and why it's essential to completely switch off at more regular intervals than you're probably doing at the moment.

By 'real' holiday, I mean you didn't think about work – no phonecalls, no quick visits into the office, no email, no impromptu meetings with clients.

I'm guessing many of you especially sole operators are thinking "tell her she's dreaming."

But what price is this decision having on your business, family and friends, and on your health?

👉 At some point to move forward and thrive rather than stay in years of survival, both personally and professionally, business owners need to 🛑 'STOP' and recharge – mentally and physically.

And I'm NOT sorry to say that means putting down the device and switching off technology.

Because we can't keep talking about how concerned we are about burnout and people's mental health, and still continue with a 24/7 mentality and practise.

💡 This is the longest holiday I've ever had in my life – a result of working in small teams and leadership positions before starting my business 23 years ago, along with personal circumstances (thanks divorce) and choices.

💡 How far technology has come where you can schedule posts so you're still connected with your community and helping them AND it's ok not to check and reply to them every day.

I had also done a post including a Canva image which told my community where I was and what I was doing.

💡 It shouldn't take 30 years to take more than 10 days off at a time.

Yes, I shut down over Christmas/New Year but as everyone knows, that's not really a holiday because you're often so rundown by the year's end and there's still more jobs to do in that time (get kids ready for a new school year, declutter, business planning etc).

I always encourage my clients and audiences to take at least a week off at least every quarter – to recharge, review and reset for the next 90 days but how many of us actually do that?

👉 In my experience, not many including me and look at the price we're paying on our mental and physical health, let alone our relationships with family and friends.

❓ So isn't it time to 🛑 stop talking about it and ✔ actually block out time in your diary for at least 4 breaks a year when you DO NOTHING but actually recharge your body and mind (which I'm no sorry to say means no phone and no tech).

Because if you don't, you're no good to anyone and you're certainly not showing up as your best self for your business, your staff and your customers – let alone your family and friends.

They believe they have to be available 24/7 to get the work.

If this is really the case, then please book in a time to chat because unless you work in disaster management (eg insurance), there is NO REASON why customers have to be immediately contacted as soon as they email you or leave a message.

Because after all, whose business is it really – yours or your customers?

Any client who wants this from me is not the right client because it's an unrealistic expectation.

Even if I wasn't on holidays, I don't spend my waking hours waiting for them to call or email me – I'm coaching, speaking, writing and doing everything needed to run my small business.

And I know that's what they're also doing so why flip the tables and demand an unrealistic expectation from me?

Small businesses need to be built on strong foundations (aka systems) so look at the 'system' I set up before I went on holidays:

✅ I advised my community what was happening – email auto reply, newsletter and social media posts

✅ I detailed what URGENT really meant – because believe me, this definition varies

✅ I advised how new and existing clients could contact me

And funnily enough, this simple system worked!

💡 So please....think about the price you're paying for being available 24/7 and not regularly 'switching off' in your small business.

I hope you find it's not worth it and decide it's time to change so you can build your Dream Small Business – one that's simple, 💰 profitable and you actually ❤ love.