In order for business owners to succeed over the long haul, staving off premature burnout and exhaustion, it’s critical to take some time off every now and then.

But simply exiting the office for a week isn’t enough. It’s important to actually disconnect, dedicating your attention to something other than your business and your team.

This is easier said than done, of course, as small-business owners often devote every waking hour to ensuring their team is operating at peak efficiency. If you’re planning a vacation but already know you’ll struggle to disconnect, consider a few practical steps:

1. Tie up your loose ends before vacation. It will be hard to enjoy your vacation if you’ve got a bunch of half-finished projects, looming deadlines, or unanswered emails swimming through your head. Be diligent in wrapping up as much as you can before you leave.
2. Leave your laptop behind. Bring your laptop into your vacation rental and you’re bound to be tempted by it. Even a single look at your work email may be all it takes to send you into a spiral of worry. Best to just leave your work collateral at the office, out of sight and (hopefully) out of mind.
3. Decide which apps are fair game. Will you be checking into Slack while you’re away? How about email? Decide before you leave which apps or websites are off-limits and consider blocking them from your phone in order to keep yourself honest.
4. Establish a code for emergencies. What constitutes a true workplace emergency, urgent enough to warrant interrupting your vacation? And how should employees communicate with you should an emergency come up? Clarify protocols with your team members before you head out of town.
5. Separate documents. Ensure that any important vacation documents (for instance, airline confirmations or Airbnb check-in details) go to a personal email account, allowing you to avoid the need to log in to your work email at any point during vacation.
6. Turn off notifications. Your phone has a “do not disturb” function. Use it. And while you’re at it, turn off notifications from social media apps, even if it’s only for a week or two while you’re out of the office.
7. Consider the inside-outside rule. If you can’t bring yourself to disconnect altogether, consider using the inside-outside rule: You’re allowed to check work calls or emails while you’re in your hotel, but never while you’re outside of the hotel. Some small-business owners find this to be an effective compromise.
8. Plan for your return. Before heading out of the office, make a detailed to-do list or schedule for your first few days back in the office, allowing you to rest assured that you’ll be ready to feel organized and on top of things upon your return.

Make your vacation a time of actual refreshment. Both your business and your mental health will be better off because of it. Follow these strategies to put some basic safeguards into place.

About the Author

Amanda E. Clark is the president and editor-in-chief of Grammar Chic, a full-service professional writing company. She is a published ghostwriter and editor, and she's currently under contract with literary agencies in Malibu, California and Dublin. Since founding Grammar Chic in 2008, Clark, along with her team of skilled professional writers, has offered expertise to clients in the creative, business and academic fields. The company accepts a wide range of projects; often engages in content and social media marketing; and drafts resumes, press releases, web content, marketing materials and ghostwritten creative pieces. Contact Clark at www.grammarchic.net.