How Designers Can Take Vacations and Time Off: Preserve Your Creativity and Avoid Burnout
At Foxtrot, we DEEPLY value taking big breaks from our business multiple times a year.
Vacation time brings balance to our lives, improves our mental health, and ensures we are replenished and creative enough to continue running our businesses for many more years.
You likely don’t need us to tell you how important time off is for your body and mind. But, it can prove challenging for us small business owners and freelancers who don't have a set number of PTO days waiting for us.
If you're a solopreneur or a small team, you may feel like taking time off (extended or otherwise) could throw a wrench in this good thing you have going.
So, let's talk about how we prioritize taking substantial time off work as business owners, and advice for planning a quick break if you need time off ASAP! ⬇️
Decide How Much Time to Take Off
The first thing you’ll want to consider is roughly how much time you want to take off each year. And, do you want to spread that time throughout the year, or take time off all at once?
We personally take 3 weeks off in the summer, 3 weeks off in December-January, and take most Fridays half-off so that we have a longer weekend.
We are also open to spontaneous weekend or week trips that come up and may fit our current client work and product launch schedule.
There's not necessarily a right or wrong way to vacation as an entrepreneur- we all have vastly different families, lifestyles, and values, so prioritize what works and feels best to YOU.
Plan These Project Spots on Your Calendar
Once you have an idea of how much time you want off, it helps to go ahead and plan when you have project availability before scheduling your vacation time. ✈️
This helps you choose the exact weeks you take off, depending on how long your projects last, and when they fall on your calendar.
Move things around so your project timelines sit nicely around the time you'd like to take off.
This can feel scary to commit to, especially if you're planning 4, 8, or 12 months, in advance, but we always thank our past selves for setting up this plan ahead of time.
Try to Schedule Your Vacation Time Months Ahead
After you've decided how much time to take off and when it's time to lock it in!
Mark your vacation time on your calendar months in advance. 🗓️
This helps ensure your business doesn't take over your life, so you're not left at the end of the year burnt out and desperately needing a break.
If you have a partner or family to vacation with, you can totally plan your breaks around their ideal times.
Seeing these vacation times on our calendar helps us be prepared; we can make sure to set up meetings, schedule content, and check things off our do to list to ensure the business will run smoothly while we're gone.
Prepare Your Design Business for Time Off
When it comes to taking your planned time off, proper preparation is key. Here are some essential steps you can take to prepare your design business for your well-deserved time off:
Set Up Auto Responders: Before you head out for your vacation, set up autoresponders for your email and other communication channels like inquiry forms. Clearly communicate your absence dates and let clients know when they can expect to hear back from you. This helps manage expectations and assures clients that their inquiries will be addressed upon your return.
Plan Client Timelines and Product Launches: Take a proactive approach by strategically planning client projects and product launches around your vacation time. When scheduling new projects, be mindful of their duration and try to align them with the period when you'll be available.
Communicate with Clients in Advance: Inform your active clients (especially retainer clients) well in advance about your upcoming time off. This allows them to plan accordingly and adjust their expectations regarding project timelines and deliverables. Open and transparent communication is crucial to maintain good client relationships and manage their expectations.
Delegate or Hire Help if Needed: Assess your workload and consider delegating tasks or hiring temporary help to cover your absence, especially for critical projects or ongoing client work. Collaborating with trusted freelancers or hiring assistants can help ensure that your clients' needs are still met during your time off.
Need a break like ASAP? Plan a long weekend away!
Sometimes taking 2-3 weeks off at a time just isn't feasible if you have kids or a partner who doesn't have the same schedule.
Or maybe you're at a point in your business financials where you just don't feel comfortable stepping away from booking projects or marketing products for that long.
This is why we love taking long weekends off work to rest, take care of our homes, spend time with friends, etc.
Look at your calendar for the next 1-2 months and see if there is a time where you can take an extended 3-4 day weekend and use that time to do ANYTHING besides work!
Taking time off as a designer is not only possible but essential for your well-being and the success of your business. By incorporating planned breaks into your yearly schedule, you can preserve your creativity, prevent burnout, and ultimately thrive in your work.
But, over the past 5 years, we've consistently taken multiple extended breaks from our business each year and promise that, with some proper planning, you and your business will absolutely be better for it!
We are DESIGNED for times of hard work and times of rest. We encourage you to prioritize your mental and physical well-being by planning out some well-deserved time off this year.
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