How to Take Time Off When Running An Interior Design Business
Many of us are coming back this week from extended time off, so you may not be thinking about how to take more time off. But the start of the year (anytime really) is a great time to make sure you are scheduling in downtime for yourself while running your interior design business. And since we are doing our yearly planning - you also want to include time off in that.
When you run your own business it may feel like if you’re not working you’re not making money (consider creating multiple revenue streams) and that you can’t afford to take time off. Or that your clients rely on you to be there - all the time. Or that you’re not sure when you could take time off because your schedule is not stable.
But you also can’t afford to not take time off. It’s critical for your health to make sure that you are taking time off and because it’s important to your health - it’s also necessary for the health of your business.
Your brain and body need a break occasionally. Creativity doesn’t thrive under constant demand.
So I encourage you to sit down with your calendar and plan some time off.
Schedule Time Off
The first step to take time off is to schedule it. If you don’t put it on your calendar and treat it as important as any of your other commitments, it won’t happen.
The best place to start is to look at the government holidays - the days that many people get off and the banks and government services are closed. Decide which of these (or all) that your office will be closed. These will generally be days that clients expect or at least understand that your business is closed. Write “closed” or “time off” in your calendar to make sure you don’t miss or forget it.
Next, think about other more personal holidays - birthdays, anniversaries, solstices, full moons, religious holidays, etc. Add those to your calendar.
Look at days you’re attending conferences, retreats, or other business & personal development days. Add those to your calendar.
Finally, consider any vacations or trips that you will be taking this year. Add those to your calendar. Even if you don’t plan on leaving your house or if you don’t have exact dates of your vacation you still should block out the time. You can solidify the dates later - what matters is reserving time to take off.
No Excuses to Take Time Off
Business owners will come up with all kinds of excuses as to why they can’t stop working. Excuses are BS and aren’t healthy. I promise your business won’t collapse in a week or two. Everyone deserves time off.
This is more about your mindset and boundaries than your clients or vendors. If you set up expectations and prepare for time off while also maintaining your boundaries (no slipping) you will be golden.
Some designers feel that if they aren’t working they aren’t making money, but overworking yourself can lead to burnout and exhaustion - and you aren’t good to anyone in that condition.
Some designers feel that their schedule is too unpredictable and that they’ll fit in time off when they can. But if you don’t make time for it, it won’t happen. Interior design projects don’t follow a perfect timeline, there may be a time when you have a vacation planned six weeks after a scheduled installation, but then the project is delayed and the client wants to install in the middle of your time off. Don’t cancel your vacation and don’t avoid scheduling one because this could happen. Interior design business owners are entitled to time off - even if it’s inconvenient for the client. (More on how to prepare a client for this in the next section.)
Some designers think that they aren’t able to step away from their business because clients rely on them. If projects are in-progress they can’t take time off. The goal of a business is to always have active projects - which means that you never take time off? Never get a break? Running a business means that someone is always going to need something from you - not that you always have to give it to them on their schedule.
The best way to overcome these excuses is to set expectations for yourself and those that interact with your business (clients, vendors, contractors, etc.)
Prepare for Time Off
One of the reasons that it’s important to schedule your time off is because it allows you to prepare for time away from your computer. You can see what is upcoming and you can plan beforehand so you feel confident stepping away from your desk.
The first step is to set your own expectations of when you’re taking time off - that was the scheduling. The next is to let everyone else know. Here are some suggestions:
Include a list of the days that your business is closed when onboarding a new client (like in a welcome packet.)
For extended time off (over 1-2 days) send emails a few weeks prior reminding people that you will be unavailable.
Include days off in project timelines (that you share with the clients/ contractors.)
Hire a virtual assistant to manage your inbox and/or phone messages while you’re away. They can screen messages for you.
Implement a two-step process to contact you while on vacation - for emergencies only. You want to make it harder for people to reach you while you’re away - so they’ll hopefully think twice about bothering you during your time off. “If this is an emergency please send a flare or telegram.”
Set your out-of-office on your email and/or outgoing phone message.
Include a reminder in your email signature and/or outgoing phone message of upcoming days off.
Remind people in-person of upcoming days off. “Just a reminder that my office is going to be closed next week.”
Use a separate work phone number so that you don’t receive work calls during your time off. It’s hard to resist responding immediately.
The bottom line is - your days off shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.
Spontaneous Time Off
I also going to challenge you to take a spontaneous, unplanned day off sometime in the next few months. Play hooky from your own business for a day. This shouldn’t be a day that your kid is sick, you are sick, you have company coming and need to clean the house, or you have a doctor’s appointment. This should be a day you wake up and simply decide you’re not going to work today - instead, explore your town, go see a movie, binge Netflix, visit a museum, take a drive, do something fun and spontaneous. And if this sounds impossible - all the more reason to do it.
