At Small is Beautiful 2014 we hosted a World Cafe session to give delegates the opportunity to talk through their hopes, dreams and aspirations for their microbusinesses.

During those discussions, we also discussed the many challenges and hurdles that small business owners encounter on a daily basis.

One of the most difficult challenges that our delegates cited was taking a holiday

Taking a vacation from your micro- or small business can be hard for a number of reasons. Some of us find it difficult to turn off; many of us bear the brunt of responsibility and feel we always have to be present for our clients or customers. When we work for ourselves, it can also feel like we are giving up on daily earnings.

Even when we do take a break, many of us still feel pressure to be available for clients, and the nature of being a microbusiness means that it  can take a lot of work to plan ahead for a holiday.

Do you take regular holidays? Let's start with some reasons why you should – for personal reasons, and for some important improvements in your business.

Why you should be taking a holiday:

1. Studies suggest that people who take holidays have lower stress, lowered risk of heart disease, a better outlook on life, and more motivation to achieve goals. Now doesn't that sound good?

2. Taking time to spend time with family and friends. Humans are social beings and we require healthy interaction with the people we love. We promise you'll feel much better for it!

3. A chance to rest and refuel. Working shorter, better planned hours can make you more productive than burning the candle at both ends ever will. Step away and take time to reflect – it can be a great chance to refresh your mindset.

4. Create space for inspiration. Some of our best ideas come when we're out and about, sitting on the bus or taking a shower. Make room for those thoughts to come to you.

5. Create a new perspective. Stepping away from your desk, for a day or longer, can really help to get us out of reactionary work – like, for example, replying to  – and to take a look at the big picture.

How to get started:

1. Take a step back and evaluate where and when you're really needed. Are you taking on a lot of administrative work that can be set aside for a week or two?

Are there seasonal changes and natural flows in your calendar where you can take a break with the least impact on sales?

Check your calendar and think about how you can make the most of these dates.

2. Think about what help you can bring in. What can you delegate? Who can you bring in to fill the role? A colleague? A virtual assistant?

Before you hand over the reins, think about the best way to delegate. Perhaps you can create some documents with step-by-step guides to what they can help out with, and/or set up systems so they know what to do.

Bonus: Once you have these in place you can tweak them rather than having to start over.

3. Tell key clients 1 month in advance. If you are offering services, chances are there will be some services that you can schedule in advance of your holiday. 

If you sell products, taking a holiday can also be a great way to create some urgency for your customers. Closing your shop over Christmas, for example? Alert your customer base in advance and encourage them to make their orders in good time.

4. Schedule key tasks ahead. You'd be surprised how much can be scheduled in advance. Create some space in your calendar to prepare for your break. This could mean scheduling some blogs and social media content to go out as usual while you're away, or having automatic reminder emails sent from your account before you return.

5. Set your out of office responder. Based on the responses from our delegates, some people hate to set up an out of office reply, while others find it freeing. State your away dates and an alternative contact if necessary.

6. Enjoy yourself! Whether you're taking a few days off with the family, escaping on a round-the-world trip or just making some time and space solely for yourself, we hope you have a great time!

Your Turn

What are your tips for taking a holiday as a microbusiness owner?

More Holiday Tips

On Being Boss – more tips for taking a holiday. As Kathleen Shannon says, on Being Boss, growth happens in the recovery.

From Zen Founder – how to vacation like a founder. Sherry Walling and Jeff Epstein give their tips on how to take a holiday without stressing yourself out.