We're all going on a summer holiday - Time to take a break from your business

It’s summer time again. Time for that longed for and worked for getaway with family or friends. It’s time to recharge your batteries, spend time with loved ones and generally refresh and leave your world behind for a few days.

Sounds pretty straightforward doesn’t it? But, what happens when you own your own business? It can be quite daunting trying to arrange a break with the thoughts of leaving your business behind nagging at you. Will everything fall apart? Will all your customers desert you? What about the backlog of work? What about all the phone calls and emails you won’t be able to answer?

Well you could always take your laptop and phone and run your business from your sun bed, but you won’t get any thanks from your holiday companions and you won’t get a break either.

So what can you do to lose the laptop and maximise your time out?

Forward planning is really the key here.

Early warning Warn your regular customers that you will be away for a particular period. Make sure you allow for your absence when taking on work. Try and complete as much outstanding work as you can before you go away.

Set up systems to allow yourself to relax. Set up auto responders for emails to advise your clients when you will be back. Record an answerphone message to say you will attend to enquiries on your return. If it makes you feel more comfortable arrange for a call answering service to take your calls while you are away.

Natural breaks in business Think about when your quiet periods are and plan accordingly – if you have a natural downturn after Christmas, try and take your break then.

Delegate. To avoid coming back to a mountainous backlog, try delegating as much as you can during your absence.

Manage your mindset. It is vital you switch off during your break. Your batteries won’t be recharging if they are still in use. Make up your mind to relax and enjoy yourself, come back de-stressed, refreshed and raring to go.

Enjoy your holiday – after all you’ve worked hard for it.

Do you have any tips for leaving your business to go on holiday?

Confessions of a messy cow!

Inspired by talks at the women's business development group I am part of, I have decided that life will be simpler if I declutter. Having been in my house for 20 years I have accumulated quite a lot of stuff, some useful and some just taking up space.

Considerably reducing the amount of clutter I have in my house means it will be easier to keep tidy I will feel less guilty when I look at it. My life will be less complicated and as a result my head will feel clearer too.

Going through my wardrobe and weeding out the clothes I no longer wear, like or fit me has always been something I find difficult. I'm always sure I'll wear it one more time or lose weight to get into it. Today I've tried to be ruthless and ended up with some large bags to give to charity.

However, sorting through non-clothing items has proved quite entertaining. A lot of memories have been stirred. So far I have unearthed a reindeer antler that I was given on an exchange visit from primary school, a build your own skeleton kit (in a Woolworths bag!) 5 unopened bottles of perfume, lots of bars of soap and countless books! 

The memories I have attached to some of those items I have found are not to be found in the cupboards but in my head and heart. I will not forget things just because I don't have the props. I feel so much better for (literally) lightening my load and like I have made room not just in my house, but in my life for other areas to bloom and grow. 

Getting rid of things can be difficult if you feel emotions and memories are attached to them. What things do you find it difficult to say goodbye and thank you to?