February 2020
Time to catch your breath?
It’s been rather busy in the TIB Virtual PA office lately, so I’m taking a well-earned break this week! Achieving a good work/life blend is easier said than done, so whether you thrive on your work or not, here are a few handy tips, for both alongside your work and if you’re hankering after a holiday…
Do it, delegate it or dump it; identify the tasks only you can do, then consider delegating others to someone you can trust. However, there’s a line between delegating and dumping that shouldn’t be blurred. If you delegate a task, you mustn’t micromanage, but you do need regular check ins to ensure jobs are being carried out to a level which upholds your brand standards. Without this, you risk losing track of the task.. As for identifying what to dump, look at the value each task adds to your business and if it doesn’t have one, DUMP IT.
As a business owner – especially if it’s new – it can be very hard to take a break, but if you don’t, you risk burnout, so what can you do?
While it’s unrealistic sometimes to think you can completely switch off, a holiday can be a perfectly manageable break if handled in the right way.
Communicate; give clients a reasonable amount of notice, relevant to the work you’re undertaking. In most cases, a couple of weeks should do it. Remember, everyone takes holidays so you don’t need to over-explain yourself – you’re not asking for permission, but keeping them in the loop so you can plan your work accordingly.
Set expectations; decide what (if anything) you need to do when you’re away and what can wait until you’re back. If you’re planning on logging on periodically, let clients know that while your response levels won’t be the same as usual, you’re not dropping the ball either.
Enjoy your break; don’t fall into the trap of looking at your emails every few minutes. Be strict with yourself. Check in briefly if you need to, then log off and make the most of your time off. It’ll be over in a flash, so don’t waste it!
I’m very lucky that a large percentage of my clients are business coaches, who by their very nature believe in achieving a balance, so they’re the first to remind me to switch off and enjoy precious time with my family too – if my clients are saying it, I’d better listen!
Finally, if you’re not quite ready for a holiday yet, make sure you still schedule some vital ‘you time’ into your week. For me, it’s the gym, paddle boarding or a good cobweb-clearing walk with the dogs. With a desk job, I like to be active to refocus my mind. Take a moment to consider what works best for you, schedule a few 20 to 60-minute slots for yourself through your week and stick to them.
Trust me, you’ll work smarter as a result.
Good luck and enjoy your ‘me’ time!!