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unning your own business comes with the flexibility to set your own schedule, but it also brings a whirlwind of responsibilities. As your own boss, it’s easy to get caught up in endless to-do lists, meetings, and the constant drive to grow your business. Finding the time to step away can seem impossible—but taking time off is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
"This is definitely one of the hardest parts of running my business, but there are a couple of techniques and tools that help me with managing work and home life," shares Novo customer John Branch, a full-time wedding photographer, content creator, and father of five.
John majored in Music Production and Sound Design before transitioning into photography. When his wife decided to stay home after they started having kids, he considered getting a second job, but she suggested he start a business instead.
"My wife is extremely supportive and helps with managing anything that takes too much time away from my business. Having a supportive spouse when running a small business is probably one of the most important factors to my success," John says.
Nearly 10 years after quitting his day job, John now emphasizes the importance of taking time off: "The easiest trap to fall into when you're working for yourself is basically working forever. And that's not good for anyone. You need to take breaks."
The Importance of Taking Time Off
Taking time off as a business owner is not a luxury: It’s a necessity. Continuous work without breaks can lead to burnout, decreased productivity, and even health issues. An Ernst & Young study showed that for every additional 10 hours of vacation time that employees took, their year-end performance improved 8%.
John shares, "Trust me, you can grind as hard as you want to and just do everything, but at the end of the day if you don't take the time to rest and enjoy the fruits of your labor, there's really no point to it, honestly".
John knows firsthand that prioritizing work-life balance and taking time off can improve productivity and prevent burnout: "I think it really helps with my sanity. When you run a business, especially by yourself you can feel in the weeds all the time and taking a moment to just get out and focus on something else helps a great deal."
Tips for a Successful Break
- Find Out Your Slow Season
Depending on where you live or what you do, you may have slower business periods, and it’s important to learn how to anticipate these moments.
For John, his slow season is between December and March. By the time December rolls around, he’s already completed editing and delivering photos to his clients, leaving him with fewer pressing tasks.
Recognizing and planning for your business's quiet periods allows you to strategically take time off without compromising your business operations.
- Plan Ahead
Effective planning is key to a stress-free vacation. Delegate tasks to trusted team members and ensure that they are well-prepared to handle any issues that may arise in your absence. Clear communication with your clients about your upcoming vacation and who to contact during that time is also essential.
- Use Your Vacation Time Wisely
Taking a break doesn't mean disconnecting completely, especially when you're a solopreneur. Balance relaxation with minimal but strategic work activities to keep your business running smoothly. John shares his approach to integrating a manageable amount of work into vacation without compromising his time off:
"When we go on vacations, I usually still take some time to sit and do emails or something. However, I usually regulate this time to early mornings (I try to wake up before everyone and get a good hour in) or in the evening when we’ve done all our activities and we’re having downtime."
This approach allows you to enjoy your vacation with no anxiety, knowing that your business is still on track.
- Automate Your Business
Automation can help give you peace of mind and allow you to better enjoy your vacation.
"If you run your business by yourself, such as I do, having tools and services that act as assistants is hands down the biggest first step you’ll need to take for growth," John says.
For example, John's CRM of choice is Honeybook. With it, he can automate the majority of his client booking process. "From first contact, through scheduling a meeting with you, I can have a very hands-off approach, which is super helpful when I’m away on vacation," he says. As a Novo customer, John also has access to Reserves to automate his budgeting. With this feature, you can set and forget an allocated amount of funds to be set aside, so you can keep your money working for you, even while you’re away.
- Take At Least 1 Day Off
If a full vacation isn't possible right now, take at least one day off every week to give yourself time to recharge.
John shares, "Taking a dedicated day off every week really helps. I currently take off every Sunday. And when I say I take off, I mean I don’t check emails, I don’t respond to emails, and I also don’t even book weddings on Sundays anymore. And for a wedding photographer that’s a huge deal as the majority of our work is happening Friday-Sunday. After this day of rest, I get to hit the ground running on Mondays and I’ve never had a huge problem with taking this one day off.”
John's Final Advice
Balancing work and personal life as a solopreneur is challenging, but not impossible. John's story is proof of that.
"It’s very hard at first, but commit yourself to taking a day off and also putting yourself first. We need to prioritize ourselves first before our business, because we are our businesses greatest asset. If we overwork that asset, we undermine our own business in the long term. We only have one life to live, and the reason we started a business was to help and bless those around us. So use your business as a tool and live your life first. Things will all fall into place as we nurture and care for ourselves first and our businesses second."
About John Branch IV
John is a wedding photographer and YouTuber based in Raleigh. Over the past decade, he's captured the most important moments for over 200 couples in North Carolina.
Want to Learn More About John?
Listen to John's Episode on Corporate Quitter Podcast
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