Sole trader / self employed taking a holiday

[CoolBee]

Just wondered how those of you who work for yourself (providing a service / goods) deal with this!

I have just been away for a week's break but checked my work email nearly every day and therefore got sidetracked onto facebook and other stuff most days for half an hour.

However, this means I didn't get a 100% break. Also, had I been out of internet / mobile phone reach, I wouldn't have been able to do this.

Without employing staff or setting up a 'vacation reply' (which I don't seem to have been able to do successfully!), just wondered how others deal with taking a full break?

How about if you are in hospital or similiarly indisposed?

I dont have or need a virtual assistant, but maybe it might be worth paying a trusted friend a little to cover this eventuality? Not sure of the logistics though!

[LostMyMap]

Originally Posted by CoolBee

Just wondered how those of you who work for yourself (providing a service / goods) deal with this!

I have just been away for a week's break but checked my work email nearly every day and therefore got sidetracked onto facebook and other stuff most days for half an hour.

However, this means I didn't get a 100% break. Also, had I been out of internet / mobile phone reach, I wouldn't have been able to do this.

Without employing staff or setting up a 'vacation reply' (which I don't seem to have been able to do successfully!), just wondered how others deal with taking a full break?

How about if you are in hospital or similiarly indisposed?

I dont have or need a virtual assistant, but maybe it might be worth paying a trusted friend a little to cover this eventuality? Not sure of the logistics though!

I tell my clients in advance that I will be out, so they aren't expecting anything. That prevents most issues. There is mostly nothing that can't wait until I get back from vacation.

I do check my email while on vacation, but I won't get sucked into doing any work then. Same with the cell phone. I don't mind and it doesn't detract from me being on break.

If I ended up in the hospital, unfortunately things would probably fall apart. That is something that will just be that way until I have more people on board that can at least continue revenue producing work.

[MyEyeIsOpen]

I set up my business to be automated. It can't grow without me, but it can run. Someone answers my phone, and someone checks my e-mail, and I don't know to know anything about it. Do you run a products or services operation?

[CoolBee]

I'm a coach so services.

Existing clients are ok as I can inform them in advance, it's dealing with new inquiries in a timely fashion that I'm thinking of.

I think I'll talk to a friend of mine about having her check email and so on - I could set up a separate email account and have emails sent there for her to check.