Small business owners are some of the busiest people around. They often wear many hats and take on a lot of responsibility. So it's no wonder that taking a holiday is often at the bottom of their list of priorities.

However, taking time off is so crucial for your mental health, your well-being and your business. You'll return feeling recharged and refreshed, ready to take on your next challenge.

If you want to be able to enjoy your holiday this year, you need to start planning for it now. Ticking off these tasks in May should help you to be able to take a holiday in July or beyond. So, let's get planning!

Put it in your calendar

You'd be surprised how many business owners will hop on a plane to somewhere sunny and then still be chained to their emails when they get there. Avoid this by putting it in your calendar now and protecting your time. Treat it like a non-negotiable business requirement. You have to take this time off, no debate. Once it's on your calendar, you'll be less likely to schedule work for this time.

Let your clients know now

Do people depend on you being available at specific times? Let them know when they can expect you to be away from your desk so they can start planning too. You may need to arrange early delivery for crucial projects or change project milestones to suit your schedule. And the more notice you can give, the better.

Pop a note on your website and email signature

Most people struggle to keep track of their own schedules, never mind those of co-workers and associates. So make it easy for them by popping a note on your website and in your email signature letting them know when you'll be away. This will help to manage their expectations, too.

Arrange cover

If you're the only one who can do what you do, then you need to arrange cover. This could be hiring a virtual assistant or passing the work to a colleague in the same field. If you have a team, then there should be someone who can step up in your absence. Planning this in advance will help to make sure that everything runs smoothly while you're away. You need to get organised before you go away so that you can truly relax once you arrive at your holiday destination.

Write an effective out of office response

You can't just leave your business unattended while you're away. But you also don't want to be dealing with work-related issues on your break. So, it's important to write an effective out of office response that will manage people's expectations and help to manage any urgent queries.

Assuming you have someone reliable and trustworthy who can pick up the slack, your OOO might simply direct people to another point of contact. You should also include emergency contact details, for instances where it absolutely cannot wait.

If you don't have anyone who can help out, then your OOO should include information on what people can expect while you're away. For example, you might let them know that their project will be put on hold until you return.

If you need help getting things in order before you leave, don't sweat it. A quick consultation call with Karen Ritchie VA should help you get clear on what needs to happen before you can switch off and enjoy some much-needed R&R!