It’s okay to work on holidays
To know me is to know I promote vacations, time away from work, and checking out for a day or a week at a time. I love being in remote parts of the mountains that do not have cell signal. I avoid working on the weekends so my brain can focus on something entirely different and return to my desk recharged. During the winter, I try to take a weekday afternoon to ski.
The need to distance myself from the day-to-day grind of building a business comes from knowing my limitations. If I don’t spend time away, whether in the mountains, doing yardwork, or getting a pedicure, I get irritable and less focused. This can result in a less than positive experience for clients, team members and my family. If I do not take time to ignore my to do list – of the business or my house - I get burned out and fatigued by anything and everything.
This need, however, does not mean I will not work on weekends or holidays. And it doesn’t mean you can’t work on weekends or holidays.
As a business owner, you have flexibility to run your business the way you see fit.
As a business owner, you have flexibility to run your business the way you see fit. While being in the mountains is my way to unwind, for others it may be volunteering at their kids’ school or a local food bank. It may involve training for a bike race that requires a daily multi-hour regiment. How we spread out our week to ensure we have the energy and focus we need is going to differ for each business owner. It is imperative that you structure your week in a way that will allow you to give your clients and customers the best you have to offer.
The New York Times featured a great opinion piece that more eloquently spells out a similar philosophy around working on vacation AND vacationing at work. The key takeaway is that reducing strict time boundaries between work and everything else can make life fuller. Cheers to that!
As we approach a three-day holiday weekend, you may plan to use the holiday to get more work done, that is okay. As school gets underway, I’m sure many of you anticipate countless hours of volunteer time at our kids’ schools. Or for others the holiday is a quieter day to get work done without the interruptions and demands from team members, clients or even family.
If you find yourself at your desk on a holiday, drafting a proposal, reconciling your books, strategizing your next product or whatever you are inspired to do, it’s okay… assuming there are other times in your week that you will do something rejuvenating or energizing.
It’s okay to work holidays.
You are a business owner. You get to design your work week in the way that allows you to be your best self. So, get out there and train for a marathon, or volunteer at a shelter, or do whatever will inspire you and get the work done during the other time slots. There is nothing wrong with working holidays when it means you can lead a fuller life.