Bank Holiday Vibes & Taking Time Out

It doesn't feel like a bank holiday today because I'm working and so is my husband. We took Friday off as we had a wedding down in Suffolk, so we decided to use today as a catch-up day since we've already had a long weekend away.

And what a lovely weekend it was. We travelled down on Friday and attended the wedding. Then on Saturday, we headed to Southwold for a day at the seaside (complete with fish and chips).

We travel a lot, but don't really do many UK breaks. We don't drive, which limits us, and UK breaks tend to be pretty pricey compared to breaks outside the UK. But since we had a wedding invite, we decided to make a weekend of it, and we had a lovely time.

So I'm back in the office today feeling refreshed and ready to go.

If you've followed my content for a while (or read my book), you'll know I'm a big advocate of taking time out from your business.

Too many people push this idea that you have to dedicate every waking minute to your business if you want to be successful, and it's complete bullshit.

Self-care is crucial as a business owner. If you are not looking after yourself, then how can you possibly give your best to your clients?

And that's why I never feel guilty taking a day, a few days, or even a couple of weeks off.

You shouldn't feel guilty either.

Working for yourself means you get to choose when you work. Or at least it should. Unfortunately, too many freelancers feel like they have to be available twenty-four-seven, and that's how they end up burning out.

You don't have to be constantly available. You are allowed to say no. You are allowed to ignore your phone or reply to an email later. You are allowed to set boundaries with clients.

And, trust me, good clients don't care. As long as you deliver what you've promised in the timescales you've promised, they don't mind when you work.

Want to take Wednesday afternoons off to have a massage? You can. Don't want to work weekends or evenings? You don't have to? Want to go on holiday four times a year? I do.

It is possible to build a business that works around you. I've done it and can help you do it too.

And as if you needed proof, here's an extract from an email one of my mentor clients sent me a couple of months ago.

I’ve been using my notes from our talks to help me get my business working for me. Because of this, I’ll be going on holiday for the first time in six years in June.

I was thinking the other day that the work we did together has started a sort of ripple effect. It has changed the way I work, the way I run my business and that in turn is having a positive effect on everything else.

So if your business isn't allowing you to take time off, hit reply and let me know or sign up for my rolling mentoring programme here.