Enjoy A Business-Free Vacation (and still keep the business running)

Sparkplugging is starting a new tradition called ‘Spark an Idea Thursday’. Each week we’ll be sharing some great ideas for a topic of interest to our readers. We invite you to grab our image and carry the tradition through to your own blog! If you do, please link back to this post so we know where you were inspired!

This week we’re Sparking an Idea On Enjoying a Business-Free Holiday!

I just got back from a week long trip to the beach. Most people on the trip with me were able to enjoy the week without thinking about work. I on the other hand had to sneak a few moments each day to check on my business. Because I was more prepared than I have been on previous vacations, I didn’t have to spend too much time working, but with even better planning and a little help, I’m hoping my next trip will be work free (assuming I don’t start to twitch with the need to check my email!)

Use Systems: One of the things that made my “job” easier while I was gone was ability to let systems do the work for me. I didn’t have to send out my newsletter because I set my list service up before I left to send it for me. I didn’t have to post daily work at home jobs at WorkAtHomeSuccess.com or my two weekly articles here at WAHM2.0 because I set Wordpress to post them for me.

Plan in Advance: In order for my systems to work for me, I had to have the information pre-done and posted, which required me to double up on work the week before my trip.  Essentially I had to put two weeks of work into one week. But its not as difficult as it sounds. When you know what’s coming, you can often get it done along side other work you need to do. For example, I post 5 work-at-home jobs a day at my blog, but knowing I would be gone, instead of searching five jobs, I found ten setting the second five to post a day I would be gone.

Get Help: Because my major work for the week was done, the only thing I had to do on my trip was check my email. This was easy through my Blackberry, but because I get so much junk mail, it was tedious to wade through it on my phone. For my next trip I intend to ask my virtual assistant to take care of email for me (note: many WAHM’s have a virtual assistant manage email even when they aren’t on vacation).  If anything is pressing, she can text me to let me know what needs my attention. Other than that, I can be email-free. Well…I’ll try. Email is the one thing I have difficulty letting go of.  But email isn’t the only thing you can get help on. You can get guest bloggers or have your VA post reprint articles to keep your blog active if you don’t want to write a double week’s worth of blogs. A VA can also take phone messages, manage your social networking, keep watch on your website and handle any problems it may have while you’re gone.

Being able to spend time away from your business without worrying about keeping it running or handling a crisis is important. As a solo-WAHM-preneur it can be hard to mentally step away even if you’re physically gone from the office. But with systems, planning and help you can enjoy yourself and still keep your business running smoothly.