For many of us, our business is like our baby. We have watched it grow, care for it deeply and find it hard at times to let go and trust that we’ve built an incredible thing that can take care of itself. So how do you prepare for a vacation — one where you don’t spend the afternoons in your inbox or calling-in for a last minute meeting — when you’re a business owner? 

Here are our 3 tips for actually taking time off this summer and beyond:

1. Delegate 

With a capable, willing team behind you, you should be able to trust that they can do their jobs and do them well while you take a little r’n’r. New to delegating and wondering how to do it the most efficient way? We recommend checking out these tips.

2. Schedule

Don’t have a team yet but definitely don’t want to touch your laptop while away? Make sure you schedule out social media posts using a tool like Hootsuite or an email by using a software like MailChimp ahead of time. 

3. Set Expectations

Have meetings with employees or clients and set the expectation that you will return all emails and phone calls when you return from your getaway. Also make sure you define what you would constitute as an “emergency” so they know when to reach out if something has gone awry. Spoiler Alert: This is very rare. 

Are you a business owner who has already mastered the art of the unplug? Tell us what you would add to the list in the comments!