In this month’s blog, I thought I would talk about summer holidays, and the dilemma of juggling business and family time. In ‘how to prepare your business for the summer holidays’, I give you some strategies to combat the overwhelm and stress often suffered by business owners during the holiday season. 

If I asked you, ‘what normally happens during the summer, when the children are off school?’ I can guess some of the answers:

  • I feel stressed trying to be there for my team and my family
  • I am torn in so many directions that I feel worn out
  • I don’t feel I can leave the business with the team
  • I have to work late into the night to keep on top of things
  • I find it hard to manage my time
  • I feel I am letting my children down

And so on.

I completely understand the challenge of finding a balance between the demands of running a business and spending quality time with your family. 

If you find it impossible to let go and enjoy a holiday away from the business, you may like to read my blog ‘How to stop doing everything in your business’, in which I give you some strategies to avoid becoming an obstacle to business growth and success.

How to prepare your business for the summer holidays

There are things you can do when preparing your business for the summer holidays to manage time efficiently and ensure your business runs smoothly while you enjoy yourself away from it. 

Plan ahead

Setting your boundaries and expectations in advance and communicating this to all parties will prevent any misunderstandings, miscommunication and ill-feeling while giving you the time you need with your family.

Allocate time during the day for business matters. Quality time for family events/holidays should be blocked out of your diary as non-negotiable. 

Communicate clearly to both your team and your family your availability for business tasks, so team members know when they can contact you. Remember to tell your clients too! If you specify particular times when they can contact you, they will accept it. 

Use technology

When considering how to prepare your business for the summer holidays, there are lots of software tools that can help you to complete tasks such as:

  • Automating business processes
  • Managing social media posts
  • Handling email marketing
  • Send automatic invoices or responses 
  • Managing stock levels

Make sure you implement business processes and systems to reduce the time you need to spend on mundane tasks while you are away. 

Use Cloud apps for remote management and monitoring so you don’t have to be in the office. Use virtual meetings and video calls to stay in touch with your team and important clients. 

You don’t need to be physically in the room to stay connected!

Work smarter not harder

In my March blog, ‘How to break tasks down’, I went into detail about setting SMART goals and how breaking tasks into smaller chunks can decrease overwhelm and improve efficiency. Business management is not about spreading yourself too thinly by trying to do everything. Instead, focus your attention on tasks that have the most impact, so you can complete essential work quickly.

Implement these strategies while you are away from the business to ensure that your time is spent effectively, maximising your input into the business while minimising time away from family.

Delegate and outsource

When preparing your business for the summer holidays, hand over tasks to your team. 

Delegating tasks to others provides you with freedom, so you will be able to relax and enjoy your holiday, knowing the business will run smoothly in your absence.

Effective delegation involves:

  • Letting go of tasks that you don’t enjoy doing
  • Relinquishing tasks that you lack the knowledge or skills to complete effectively
  • Delegating tasks that you shouldn’t be doing because your time comes at a higher cost

Empowering your team to make important decisions and giving them the authority to act in your absence will ensure:

  • The smooth running of your business
  • Increase the confidence and cohesion of your team
  • Show them that your trust them and appreciate their input

I talked in more about the art of delegation in ‘How to stop doing everything in your business’.

Outsourcing can be a valuable resource when planning time away from your business. Temporary staff can help to plug the gaps. Hire freelancers for certain tasks, such as social media management, order fulfilment and customer service.

Have you thought about hiring an online business manager who can take over the reins for you while you take some time off? An online business manager from Spero Solutions will ensure your business runs smoothly, giving you back the time to spend with family and friends. Let’s talk about how an online business manager package can give you your life back.

Make full use of flexible working hours

If you prefer days out rather than a long holiday, there are several options to consider for how to prepare your business for the summer holidays:

Put together a supervision rota with other parents, so every parent has some time to work

  • Starting work earlier to leave afternoons free
  • Work three longer days per week, varying the days to accommodate special trips
  • Work when your children have activities planned with friends
  • Plan work around the needs of your children, e.g., nap time, bed time, excursions, visits, etc.
  • Put together a supervision rota with other parents, so every parent has some time to work

Introduce your children into the business

If your children are old enough, think about taking them into work with you so you can be on hand if critical decisions have to be taken during the holiday season. Children can find work experience fun, and it gives them an understanding of the world of work in preparation for adult life. 

Of course, I realise that this may not be possible in every business or for every child.

How to prepare your business for the summer holidays

By implementing these strategies, you will be able to enjoy stress-free time away from the business with your children, without guilt or sacrificing business growth. The key to finding the right balance is to use a mix of strategies that works for your particular situation and can be adapted to fluctuating business demands and changing family circumstances.

If you find it hard to let go, and thinking about how to prepare your business for the summer holidays brings you out in a cold sweat, your business could be too reliant on you. It should not be taking over your life, nor should you feel that you cannot enjoy a family holiday. 

If you don’t think you have time for a family holiday or feel that your business controls you, contact Elaine at Spero Solutions to find out how an online business manager can help you to stay in control of your business.