As a small business owner, you have a huge responsibility when it comes to making your business a success. Your heavy workload can lead to burnout, though. Improve your ability to stay in business and boost your creativity, productivity and focus when you take breaks.
Schedule Breaks
Your daily schedule is filled with meetings, trainings, projects and networking. These tasks are essential, but where are your breaks?
Starting today, include meal times, regular exercise and family nights into your daily schedule. Mark out vacation, too. Writing breaks on your schedule shows that you prioritize them and ensures you have time to eat, play and relax. Adding breaks to your schedule models a good work life balance to your staff, too, which helps them stay focused and energized at work.
Stick to Your Schedule
Now that you added breaks to your schedule, take them! Don’t make excuses or promise to take a longer break tomorrow. Tomorrow will be busy, too.
Set alarms on your phone that remind you to stick to your break schedule. You can also plan a fun activity, like chatting with a friend, walking your dog or eating your favorite sushi to enjoy on your break. By keeping your schedule, your creativity, productivity and work life balance will thank you.
Take Advantage of Natural Stopping Points
You’re all set to take breaks, but the big projects you have scheduled don’t take breaks. Use natural stopping points to stay on track and get away.
Divide the project into milestones, calculate how long each milestone will take to complete and schedule your breaks to occur then. This technique gives you something to work toward and look forward to, and after your break, your brain will be fresh and ready to tackle the next thing on your to-do list.
Make the Appropriate Arrangements
Don’t let your work keep you from taking the breaks you need. Whether you get away for a few hours or a few weeks, a little planning and a few arrangements allow your business to keep moving forward even when you’re not present.
To put your plan in action, assign staff to do your duties. Then communicate with your clients. Work out a schedule that allows you to get away and finish any projects, even if that means putting in a few extra hours before you leave or postponing some work. The planning effort is challenging, but your mind and body need to get away from work once in awhile.
Breaks allow you to regroup, recharge, prevent burnout and stay focused. They’re essential for your business’s success. What will you do during your next break?
