| > | | | | No matter when you begin your holiday break, you |
| On Monday morning not too long ago, I braced | | | | need to letyour clients know. Two weeks before any |
| myself for adeluge of email. I had not switched on | | | | vacation, Angela |
| my computer for threedays and just knew I would | | | | Strosnider of Virtual Office and Business |
| have a couple of hundred emails. | | | | Solutionsannounces it to her clients, relatives and |
| I was wrong. There were 486. | | | | others. 'I takethe laptop and check for any |
| That afternoon, our postal carrier left a basket of | | | | emergency mails as well. |
| mailthat must have weighed a couple of pounds. | | | | Besides that I make an autorespond message to all |
| 'I need a vacation,' I muttered to myself. But that | | | | emailsabout when I'll return,' she says. |
| was theproblem. Monday was my first day back | | | | You need to communicate with your customers |
| from one, and I vowed | | | | when you getback as well, especially when email |
| I would never take another. | | | | replies have beendelayed for a few days due to your |
| I eventually came to my senses, but I still tend to | | | | absence. 'People areunderstanding if you offer a |
| think oftime away from business with a mix of | | | | reason for the long wait,' says |
| excitement and dread. | | | | Terri Seymour of < > |
| And those feelings are looming large right now as | | | | 2. GIVE YOURSELF A WINDOW TO CATCH UP |
| Ianticipate my daughter's holiday break from school - | | | | 'I've always thought that I should extend my |
| whichthis year, lasts for three long weeks. | | | | vacation by twodays when telling others,' says |
| The December holidays were one of the reasons I | | | | Roberta Stubblefield of The |
| opted for awork-at-home lifestyle. When I worked | | | | Mom Team < > 'That way I canuse the two days to |
| outside the home as acorporate event planner, our | | | | catch up on everything with theanswering machine |
| first big convention of theyear always occurred the | | | | on, then be ready to start out fresh.' |
| second week of January. This meant | | | | 3. CONSIDER HIRING A BACKUP |
| I had to work 10 hours a day, six days a week each | | | | A virtual assistant could be the answer to your |
| December | | | | vacationprayers, notes Kristie Lemauga, who happens |
| (although I got Christmas and New Year off). I | | | | to be the VA at |
| resented thefact that everyone else was home | | | | < > Kristie suggests thatby forwarding your email to |
| decorating the house andbaking goodies, and vowed | | | | a live person instead of usingan autoresponder, your |
| to be able to do that one day. Nowthat I'm a home | | | | customers can have their needshandled in a personal |
| based entrepreneur, I can keep that promiseto | | | | manner. Kristie says that A VA canalso 'process any |
| myself. | | | | orders, info requests, data entry, andunsubscribes |
| But as a one-person shop, I need to take steps to | | | | while you are away, take phone calls for |
| insurethat my business will still be here after the | | | | yourbusiness, prepare your calender for your return, |
| decorationshave been put away. Imagine the orders, | | | | and assistwith administrative tasks ... so you can |
| customer servicecalls and income opportunities we | | | | catch up in theareas that require your personal |
| miss by being away fromour posts for a couple of | | | | attention.' |
| weeks! | | | | 4. MAKE A PLAYDATE FOR THE KIDS |
| The fortunate thing about a December break is that | | | | As much as we love our children (and for many of |
| most ofthe Western world is occupied with the same | | | | us, theyare the reason we are working at home in |
| things: holidayget-togethers, family activities and | | | | the first place),they can also be a distraction. You'll |
| religious observance. | | | | catch up faster uponyour return if they're having fun |
| All business slows down mid-December as people | | | | outside the house. Terri |
| focus ontheir faith and families. The exception, of | | | | Seymour arranges an overnight visit with their |
| course, is | | | | grandparents,but taking them to a playdate at the |
| Christmas shopping. If your business involves selling | | | | home of a trustedfriend may give you all the time |
| giftitems, you may not get a holiday break until | | | | you need to focus on yourwork. (Just be sure your |
| December 25. Ifthat's the case, I suggest taking at | | | | friend knows you'll return thefavor soon!) |
| least the week offbetween Christmas and New Year. | | | | 5. ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY! |
| A vacation - even a shortone - will allow you to | | | | Remember that you need your break! Bake those |
| recharge your mental batteries,resulting in increased | | | | cookies -enjoy the parties - build a snowman with |
| energy and creativity on January 2. Itwill also help | | | | your kids and warmyourselves up next to a roaring |
| you avoid the feelings of resentment Iexperienced at | | | | fire. As Angela Strosnidersays, 'Working at home is a |
| that event planning job. | | | | 24/7 job just like any otherwhen you add a house |
| The trick to taking the time you need and starting | | | | and family. Take a personal time-outwith you and |
| back upsmoothly is in how you prepare your business | | | | your loved ones, and you will feel much betterabout |
| for yourabsence. Here are some tips: | | | | working so much later. |
| 1. COMMUNICATION IS KEY | | | | |