I have to agree with Crankydave. You have to close your office. Write a nice letter or call all of your clients and tell them your office will be closed for one week or however long and tell them the dates. You can tell them you will take your laptop a if there is an emergent situation, you will deal with it, otherwise, you won't be working. Or, you can just tell them you will be unavailable for the duration of time you have chosen.
In the future, for each new client, be sure to list in your contract or policies that your office is closed for two weeks (or three etc) each year and that they will be notified at least 72 hours in advance of such office closings. Everyone understands that people have to take time away from work completely once in a while. If you can't go "cold turkey" take your laptop with you for emergencies. But for goodness sake, take some time off! (Let us know where you went)
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Originally Posted by crankydave
You have to make me time. Even if it's only one week a year. There's only so long you can burn the candle at both ends and remain happy and motivated. Become a slave, be a slave.
I take one week a year where I drop out. Gone fishin'! No internet, no electricity, no phone, no TV, radio, newspapers... no nuthin except the people I'm with and what I'm enjoying. I don't stress about work at all. Took some practice, but it works for me. Hell, my wife looks forward to that time because she gets me time for her!
If your clients can't survive without you for a week or so, or have an issue with you not being at their beck and call 24-7 then it's time to re-evaluate some things. If you've "billed" yourself as the 24-7 solution then you've only yourself to blame. Hire some (some more) staff. If they've come to expect it because you've made yourself "available" to them 24-7... you only have yourself to blame... time for some "re-training" for the both of you.
For me, I made it clear, well in advance, when they were not not going to be able to reach me... period. Granted, spur of the moment type stuff still finds me with a laptop but the phone and instant replies are out. If this is unacceptable to them, then so be it.
I've been self employed/business owner for most of my adult life. Training myself to take time for for me was a difficult thing to do. But I'm much, much happier for having done so. I have generally found, many folks relate to, understand, and appreciate that. They realize that they need it too.
For me (I can't wait!!!) that time is fast approaching! I have trusted people to rely on to properly "deal with" things, including so-called "emergencies" while I'm gone.
I hang up the "Gone Fishin!" sign and deal with whatever when I get back. The world goes on with or without me but for that particular time it's all about ME and I and all the folks around me are better served and happier for it.
Don't sell yourself short.
Dave
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