Earlier this week at Heart of Business we had the end of November conversation: What do we need to do to make sure we can really stop working at the end of the year?
For years now I’ve aspired to not work from mid-December until early January. Some years I’ve been successful at that. Other years less so.
The secret? Taking a break is a -project-. It takes some advanced thinking, planning and work. Here’s our checklist at Heart of Business as we begin to wind down in December.
0. Open your heart to taking a real break.
Whether it’s an extra-long weekend, five days, or a full two weeks, you need a break, a time to step away completely from your business.
I know some people spend time doing a deep dive or internal retreat during this time, looking at your business and all that it needs for the coming year, and that’s great. I very much support that.
And also make sure that you are taking time off, stepping away completely. It’s important for you and for the health of your business.
Take a moment right now and embrace it. Even if you think you can’t…
1. No new initiatives or first-time experiments in December.
We have two projects we’re working on now, one that we thought we were going to start in December, but with the shape of it, it’s going to take us at least another week until we’re ready. Another week puts us at December 9.
December 9 is too late. If there are glitches, or even if it goes well, it’s going to occupy our attention beyond December 18, which is supposed to be our last day.
Instead, we’re working on getting it all ready, but we won’t do anything with it until early January.
Things ALWAYS take longer and occupy more attention than you think.
2. Set expectations well ahead of time with your clients.
This may be a seeming no-brainer, but I’ve found myself forgetting to tell my clients when exactly I’m out of the office. Not good.
Telling all of your clients well ahead of time let’s you work together to meet their needs, even if you work a little harder just before you take your break. They understand you need a vacation, just don’t suddenly leave them high and dry.
3. Think ahead: what’s needed the first week of January?
Think about what your clients or programs might need then, and get that as set up as you can ahead of time. Or at least plug it into your calendar.
4. Set up your communication systems (with reminders for you when you get back)
Another obvious one that sometimes gets forgotten: email and voice mail, and even posts on your social media account telling people when you will no longer be available and when you’ll be back.
And set up a reminder on your calendar for the first day back to change your voice mail back and turn off your email vacation message.
Here’s a trick with your email: Ask people in your vacation email to email you again on whatever date you get back, so you can safely delete all the email you get while you’re gone. The email will keep coming, but if your vacation message is clear that you really are offline, it won’t leave you overwhelmed with two weeks of email when you get back.
Conversely, if you don’t trust that approach and are afraid of losing something important, plan a full 3-4 hour block of time the first week back to handle email. It will be an unusual amount, and trying to fit that in among everything else will be overwhelming if you don’t plan for it.
5. The final week: tie up loose ends
There will be loose ends to tie up that final week. Make sure you leave time in your calendar to handle those. Pay bills, file papers, get it all clean and tidy.
Mark, we’re not in Kindergarten
It’s so true, we’re all adults here, and I feel funny telling you this stuff.
At the same time, and maybe it’s just me, I’ve had many years where the end of the year seemed to sneak up on me. Suddenly there I was, supposed to take time off, but having so many details, emails and problems leaking into my vacation time.
I’m guessing in a normal week you are full up getting things done, without a lot of leisure time doing nothing. The end-of-year/before vacation tasks are extra on top of that. If you don’t think about them this week and plan for them, chances are it’s going to be hard to get them all done at the end.
So, what are you doing in December?
If you’re willing to share, I’d love to hear a) how you prepare to go on vacation, and b) what do you do for the end of the year?
This year, my family did all of our family visits already for Thanksgiving, so we’re going to stay cozy at home and enjoy our first Ithaca December. If you’re in the area, maybe I’ll see you on the Commons.
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Heart of Business Community Update
As a community member, here’s quick access to resources and conversation!
Ready for spiritual nourishment? Your next Virtual Retreat is scheduled for Friday, December 11, 2015. Register here.
In our secret Facebook group yet?
It’s our private, secret group only for Community members – no one else can see it. Here are some discussions happening right now:
- Sometimes we just need validation that we are all One Heart expressing many traditions through ‘carols and songs‘. Our Community is here to help you walk through advertising and presentation decisions.
- Need help walking through those ‘fuzzy, overwhelm‘ moments we feel when learning something new in our business? Check out these great Community member comments on the power of Remembrance to shift perceptions.
These are just 2 of the many discussions happening every day in our active, compassionate group! Don’t yet have access? Click here.
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December is a good time to dig into your business.
What I mean by that is if your business is needing help, getting started in December means that you have a jump on the new year.
As it turns out, the first Monday in December is next Monday, December 7. Which means that we have an extended sign-up deadline of tomorrow, December 3, for the Foundations programs.
Foundations1: Clients and Money is for those in start-up. How in the heck do you easily, gracefully, lovingly get new clients and get paid? Only $95/month!
Click here for info and to register.
Foundations2: Expand Your Reach is for those whose income is at times okay, but inconsistent, and you knew if you reached more people, you would have a full, consistent business. It covers website strategy and networking (including networking for introverts!). Only $167/month!
Click here for info and to register.
Or, if you don’t need Foundations then maybe Heart of Money:
107 in the first 13 days
I didn’t quite imagine the response would be so strong, but in the first 13 days that Heart of Money was open for registration we had 107 people register.
What’s more, all of those people will also get a bonus class on December 18 on a special Sufi healing technique that I use on a daily basis with myself to clear stuck places.
If you could use a Divinely-inspired relationship with your finances, so you can finally make, and see, the changes you’ve been hoping for, please join us.
Click here to find out more, and to register:
12 Responses
At the end of the year, Mark, I need a little kindergarden help! I like how you spelled it out, clearly, simply. With a muddled end-of -the-year-mind that’s exactly what I need.
I’m taking a week off from seeing clients at the end of the year. Hopefully I will have tied up all loose ends and will have a restful time. I am supposed to have my manuscript to Norton Publishing by the end of the year. My personal deadline is to have it finished — at least all the chapters– by December 20th so I can have a week without that populating my mind! Wish me luck!!
Oh, Kindergarten can be so helpful, Deirdre- glad you took it in the right way. 🙂 I’m so glad to hear you’re taking time off, and congrats on (hopefully) getting your manuscript to Norton! Woo-hoo!
Reminders are always helpful!
I haven’t usually planned time off from my business, only taken time when had emergencies, and it took ending up in the hospital recently to make that pattern clear to me. Good grief! So I am now learning to plant time off and feel okay about it.
Iris! It can take very strong reminders/wake-up calls like that, unfortunately- and glad you are learning to do it in a way that feels much better. Here’s to vacation!
Thank you for this nudge…and some straightforward steps, Mark.
Last January, during our annual trip to Sonoma, I spent lots of time writing articles. I enjoyed this thoroughly…usually after yoga while curled up in an adorable cafe sipping fantastic coffee.
And yet, I did a little too much. And never really stopped. On the trip home, I realized and voiced this…and vowed to do things a bit differently next year.
Turns out, this year we can’t make that trip. And will instead be going through the uncertainty and excitement and chaos of moving states. Amidst all that, somehow, someway, I know we need to at least take a solid weekend…two (or maybe three!) days to centre, touch in, get grounded, receive. It feels so, so important.
Dana- after moving cross-country ourselves recently, I know that it can really throw things like vacation out the window. If you can, try to give yourself a solid week after you land, just to catch your breath and re-orient. If not, a few 3-4 weekends should work nicely. 🙂 And woo-hoo for the move!
Mark, I needed this today! I’ve been working really hard on practice-building and content creation, and I’m surprised how resonant your article is for me today. I’m going to review and reschedule all client and content work from the 18th through the end of the month. I’m gonna deep dive into refreshing myself by not working!
Sue! I’m so glad to hear that- that’s what I was hoping would be the outcome for many people.
I am so happy you wrote this article Mark and do not worry about kindergarten because some things need to be spelled out for me because I just do not know how to organise certain things even when I do not have a business up yet and running like all of you.
I will be leaving for the alps for a few weeks where I also work on skype seeing clients but I think I will not do that this year and just dedicate my time to being submersed in so much beauty, walking, cross countrying skiing and taking time for myself…..and work on my Foundations II course. Actually, how will it work? Are we supposed to be taking time off from the courses if you will not be checking homework assignments? I have been wondering about that this week.
Daniella- so glad this was helpful, and that you get to go to the Alps free and easy from work!
Hey, Mark this is the Month of December and i am still busy working with left over and was looking this kind of post only. I think your post might get me out of trouble.
Thanks a lot.
I so hope it helped, Robin! Were you able to stop?