{"id":93235,"date":"2026-04-23T02:59:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T07:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/?p=93235"},"modified":"2026-04-23T02:59:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T07:59:01","slug":"how-to-take-time-off-7-tips-to-prioritize-your-health-and-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/how-to-take-time-off-7-tips-to-prioritize-your-health-and-business.html","title":{"rendered":"How to take time off: 7 tips to prioritize your health and business"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/garage\/how-to-take-time-off\/\" title=\"How to take time off: 7 tips to prioritize your health and business\" rel=\"follow noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Wondering how to take time off? You\u2019re not imagining it \u2014 it has, indeed, become increasingly difficult to do. Whatever the cause (and we\u2019ll get to that) the data suggests that the situation is dire.<\/p>\n<p>On the surface, learning how to take time off isn\u2019t mysterious or overly complicated. Yet, action and actual change remains elusive for many of us. Dive right into these 7 tips for taking more time away from work, or keep reading to learn about the tangible payoffs waiting for you when you do.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ol>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#build-systems\">Build systems that require you to work less.<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#book-something\">Book something.<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#Look-forward\">Genuinely look forward to your time off.<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#Make-a-routine\">Make it a routine.<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#other-people\">Get other people involved.<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#identify-problem-areas\">Identify problem areas.<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"#set-realistic-boundaries\">Set real(istic) boundaries<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><em>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/garage\" link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"follow noopener\">18 self-care tips to promote entrepreneur health and wellness<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/how-to-take-time-off-7-tips-to-prioritize-your-health-and-business.html\/#What_kind_of_time_off_helps\" >What kind of time off helps?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/how-to-take-time-off-7-tips-to-prioritize-your-health-and-business.html\/#Why_dont_we_take_more_time_off\" >Why don\u2019t we take more time off?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/how-to-take-time-off-7-tips-to-prioritize-your-health-and-business.html\/#Take_more_time_off_for_your_health\" >Take more time off for your health<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/how-to-take-time-off-7-tips-to-prioritize-your-health-and-business.html\/#How_to_take_time_off_The_case_for_proactive_recovery\" >How to take time off: The case for proactive recovery<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/how-to-take-time-off-7-tips-to-prioritize-your-health-and-business.html\/#How_to_take_time_off_in_7_ways\" >How to take time off in 7 ways<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/how-to-take-time-off-7-tips-to-prioritize-your-health-and-business.html\/#1_Build_systems_that_require_you_to_work_less\" >1. Build systems that require you to work less<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/how-to-take-time-off-7-tips-to-prioritize-your-health-and-business.html\/#2_Book_something\" >2. Book something<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/how-to-take-time-off-7-tips-to-prioritize-your-health-and-business.html\/#3_Genuinely_look_forward_to_your_time_off\" >3. Genuinely look forward to your time off<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/how-to-take-time-off-7-tips-to-prioritize-your-health-and-business.html\/#4_Make_it_a_routine\" >4. Make it a routine<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/how-to-take-time-off-7-tips-to-prioritize-your-health-and-business.html\/#5_Get_other_people_involved\" >5. Get other people involved<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/how-to-take-time-off-7-tips-to-prioritize-your-health-and-business.html\/#6_Identify_problem_areas\" >6. Identify problem areas<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/how-to-take-time-off-7-tips-to-prioritize-your-health-and-business.html\/#7_Set_realistic_boundaries\" >7. Set real(istic) boundaries<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/how-to-take-time-off-7-tips-to-prioritize-your-health-and-business.html\/#3_things_to_do_if_you_cant_take_time_off_yet\" >3 things to do if you can\u2019t take time off *yet*<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/how-to-take-time-off-7-tips-to-prioritize-your-health-and-business.html\/#Next_steps\" >Next steps<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_kind_of_time_off_helps\"><\/span>What kind of time off helps?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There are different manifestations of productive time off. Here are some scenarios that <em>aren\u2019t <\/em>included on that list:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Sick days or medical leave<\/li>\n<li>Family leave<\/li>\n<li>Multitasking while being physically somewhere else<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Rest is not simply the absence of work. It requires a replacement, and the most effective replacement is one that creates contrast. Uncomfortable as it might be in the beginning, time spent working should ultimately be replaced with something that fulfills your other needs.<\/p>\n<div class=\"callout\">Deciding to take more time off doesn\u2019t always have to be grandiose.<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>For this conversation, let\u2019s count <em>any <\/em>intentional break from work as time off. On the scale of micro-breaks to vacations, there are a whole host of benefits waiting for us.<\/p>\n<p>But before exploring how to take time off and the real rewards that come with stepping away from work, let\u2019s diagnose where work and non-work life balance explosively collide.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_dont_we_take_more_time_off\"><\/span>Why <em>don\u2019t <\/em>we take more time off?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Is it our obsession with being busy? Lack of systems in place? Or are we just earnestly procrastinating taking time off?<\/p>\n<p>Maybe we\u2019re not to blame at all. After all, the work-from-home explosion of 2020 led to much longer workdays and destroyed many people\u2019s work-life balance.<\/p>\n<p>But, looking at data dating back to 2000, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/nazbeheshti\/2021\/08\/18\/we-worked-longer-hours-during-the-pandemic-research-says-we-need-to-work-smarter-not-harder\/?sh=29e1b0221805\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Forbes<\/a> points out that \u201coverwork is a longstanding problem.\u201d And that\u2019s never more apparent than when you look at taking vacation time. To get unaffected statistics on the U.S. workforce\u2019s relationship with cashing in vacation days, we have to reach back to a time when the average person had never heard of a coronavirus.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>The U.S. Travel Association <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ustravel.org\/press\/study-record-768-million-us-vacation-days-went-unused-18-opportunity-cost-billions\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">reported in 2019<\/a> that 55% of American workers left vacation days unspent.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The ocean of statistics on entrepreneurs and their time off is much more shallow, but we don\u2019t need Gallop to tell us that entrepreneurs struggle even <em>more <\/em>to take time off from work. There\u2019s a chasm of opportunity for most of us to learn how to take time off. Maybe the benefits will sway us.<\/p>\n<p><em>Related: Mindfulness for entrepreneurs \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/garage\/\" link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"follow noopener\">How to adopt a mindset that can improve your business and your life<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Take_more_time_off_for_your_health\"><\/span>Take more time off for your health<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The irony here is apparent: <em>The obsession with productivity has such a hold that we must convince ourselves that it\u2019s productive to take more time off. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>I mean, we\u2019re already here \u2014 might as well lean into it and be blown away by the health benefits, don\u2019t you agree?<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve all heard that not taking enough time off from work exasperates stress and the side effects of stress range from headaches to heart disease. Prolonged stress has detrimental effects on our mental and physical health.<\/p>\n<p>That information isn\u2019t new to most of us, but the problem with overworking is that for many people, it\u2019s a constant state of being.<\/p>\n<p>Taking an afternoon off to improve your mental health while still living in a state of overpowering stress is like using a ladle to bail out an overflowing bathtub while the tap is still running.<\/p>\n<p>If it\u2019s meant to offer any lasting health benefits, our ability to take more time off will need to be institutional in our lives, not used as a tool to simply pump the breaks right before collapsing. Instead, successful time off results in something called <strong>proactive recovery. <\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_take_time_off_The_case_for_proactive_recovery\"><\/span>How to take time off: The case for proactive recovery<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s elegantly simple: choose to fill up the tank before it runs low in the first place. We do this in many other areas of our lives. We all prefer to change the tires of our cars <em>before <\/em>running them thin and getting a flat. It would be ludicrous to wait for a cavity to brush our teeth.<\/p>\n<p>About our ability to take more time off from work, <strong>proactive recovery is the process of catching ourselves right at the point where our performance drops, <\/strong>instead of waiting for a radical loss of productivity.<\/p>\n<p>The big-picture buy-in is easy, but let\u2019s zoom into the macro and find ways to implement taking time off today.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_take_time_off_in_7_ways\"><\/span>How to take time off in 7 ways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It won\u2019t cost you a cent to initiate each of these actionable tips for taking more time off.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"build-systems\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Build_systems_that_require_you_to_work_less\"><\/span>1. Build systems that require you to work less<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Systems can be <em>technical<\/em>, like schedulers and automations. They can also be <em>intangible<\/em>, like pre-written emails or templates for FAQs, or hiring an assistant or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/garage\/freelancing-jobs-for-entrepreneurs\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"follow noopener\">virtual assistant<\/a> (VA) to handle recurring tasks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"callout\">Focus on the three -IONs: automation, delegation and elimination.<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A few simple systems worth exploring are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>An away-from-computer bounce email (here\u2019s how to set one up in <a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/office\/send-automatic-out-of-office-replies-from-outlook-9742f476-5348-4f9f-997f-5e208513bd67\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Outlook<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/mail\/answer\/25922?hl=en&amp;co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Google<\/a>) with solutions to your most frequent requests (if applicable in your business).<\/li>\n<li>You also can set up automatic replies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.combin.com\/blog\/how-to-set-up-auto-reply-on-instagram-direct-messages\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">on Instagram and Facebook<\/a> if you get frequent messages there.<\/li>\n<li>Use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/garage\/email-automation-101\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"follow noopener\">automated email sequences <\/a>to nurture leads immediately.<\/li>\n<li>Leverage big-picture strategies, like SEO, to bring in potential customers and leads constantly.<\/li>\n<li>Explore an automatic calendar booking system, where clients and team members can book an appointment with you at any time. Add this feature to your website contact page or your automated away-from-inbox message and you\u2019ll effortlessly maintain your appointments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Editor\u2019s note:<\/strong> If you built your business website using GoDaddy\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/websites\/website-builder\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"follow noopener\">Websites + Marketing<\/a>, you can quickly and easily adapt your website to book appointments, meetings, events, classes and training sessions online.<\/p>\n<p>Finding the right tools is a massive leap towards working smarter and not harder. Milon Mia, CEO of <a href=\"https:\/\/milsales.com.au\/?fbclid=IwAR2Tio2myS2KCMGMKgnODLp_-YvY1WpO2-QvhUU6oWgi1j3AK_lbm6KqRRU\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Milsales<\/a>, described how this process transformed his ability to take more time off:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cI spent 12-18 hours per day working in the beginning for my own business and that took a very big toll on my social, emotional and physical life. I recommend that others not try to figure it all out on their own.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Instead, he only works about 2-4 hours a day now. \u201cI was able to do this because I built a team, leveraging others\u2019 expertise and resources to propel me forward. The funny thing is now, I can achieve a lot more by working less.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the dream, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n<p><em>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/garage\/tech-shortcuts-relieve-work-life-stress\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"follow noopener\">12 tech shortcuts to relieve work-life stress<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"book-something\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Book_something\"><\/span>2. Book something<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p>A flight, a massage, a walk around the block with a neighbor \u2014 big or small, putting time off on the calendar makes it real. It also becomes an event you can prepare for. If your time off spans days or weeks, let your team or clients know in advance.<\/p>\n<p>Present this information as a courtesy notification instead of a request for their blessing.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/14.0.0\/72x72\/274c.png?w=993&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\u274c\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/><em> \u201cIf no one objects, I\u2019m going to be out of the office the first week of next month.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n<p>Be firm and confident in your presentation.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/14.0.0\/72x72\/2705.png?w=993&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\u2705\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/><em> \u201cThis won\u2019t affect the project deliverables, but I\u2019m letting you know that I\u2019ll be taking time off the first week of next month. I\u2019ve blocked out those days on the calendar, so if you need to schedule a meeting with me, feel free to do so before or after.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n<p>If this time away from work spans multiple days and involves travel, show that you\u2019re not playing around by leaving your laptop at home! You get bonus psychological points if you spend money while scheduling your time off. When we spend money, we\u2019re less likely to cancel or ghost a commitment. It also (should) create an endorphin build-up, which leads right to No. 3.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Look-forward\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Genuinely_look_forward_to_your_time_off\"><\/span>3. Genuinely look forward to your time off<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s easy to misconstrue <em>any <\/em>time off as a success, but it\u2019s not a pass-fail checkbox. There\u2019s a scale. On one end, there\u2019s taking time <em>physically <\/em>away from your work but still thinking about it. On the other end is something joyful, relaxing, distancing and creativity\u2013inducing.<\/p>\n<p>Who wants to think about their inbox the entire way through an afternoon movie with a friend? That\u2019s not success. Eating yourself nauseous on butter popcorn and having an intense, consuming debate on which Marvel superpowers are most practical for daily life is a success.<\/p>\n<p>But mental multitasking might be step one for you, and that\u2019s OK. There\u2019s likely a lot of unconditioning to do. If your trademark reaction to taking time off work is anxiety about deadlines, productivity or lost progress, it\u2019s really important to reroute your mental reaction. Get the endorphins flowing the moment you commit.<\/p>\n<div class=\"callout\">The real payoff of learning how to take time off is bringing more joy into your life.<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Then, rinse and repeat.<\/p>\n<p><em>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/garage\/how-to-take-a-vacation-when-youre-a-solopreneur\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"follow noopener\">How to take a vacation when you\u2019re a solopreneur<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Make-a-routine\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Make_it_a_routine\"><\/span>4. Make it a routine<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Guys&#8217; night is the first Saturday of every month. Coworking sessions that morph into wine happy hour every other Friday. A standing hiking date with a friend.<\/p>\n<p>These breaks from work can be big or small, but you should institutionalize them into your calendar and life.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe a mix of both is ideal. A common thread of success is that this opportunity for time off involves other people, which rolls right into tip No. 5.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"other-people\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Get_other_people_involved\"><\/span>5. Get other people involved<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When I posed the question, \u201cwhat motivates you to take more time off?\u201d to my online network, the No. 1 response was to get other people invested.<\/p>\n<p>Seeing your kids, friends or partner look forward to doing something together makes you less likely to procrastinate or fall through on your commitment to take more time off.<\/p>\n<p>Another take on this same tip came from Aaron Gray, co-owner and teacher at <a href=\"https:\/\/pmpmusicstudio.com\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Practice Makes Perfect Music Studio<\/a>, who found that building up a reliable core team was fundamental to his ability to take more time off.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile not everyone can have a co-owner, I do encourage small business owners to appoint a \u2018second in command.\u2019 Having this small team of reliable employees not only allows business to progress when I&#8217;m not there, but it helps me relax knowing that my business is running smoothly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This is only effective if you know what to delegate, so you\u2019ll need to first identify problem areas.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"identify-problem-areas\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Identify_problem_areas\"><\/span>6. Identify problem areas<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If learning how to take time off is too big of a task to tackle at once, triage your business and look for problem areas you can pivot into opportunities. Once you identify a problem area, consider which of the three -ION words to apply: automation, delegation or elimination.<\/p>\n<div class=\"callout\">Your greatest pain points present your great opportunities.<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Laurel Carpenter, the co-founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pearlconsultingnyc.com\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Pearl Consulting NYC<\/a>, shared her insight that led to the elimination of one of the most time-consuming business tasks: social media. \u201cNeither of us are workaholics,\u201d she said of herself and her partner. \u201cWe decided to stop doing social media management because it never stops.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"set-realistic-boundaries\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Set_realistic_boundaries\"><\/span>7. Set real(istic) boundaries<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>At the heart of learning how to take time off are boundaries and follow-through.<\/p>\n<p>As Nadalie Bardo put it, we must \u201cembrace the power of downtime to restore, replenish, revive and rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fiber artist Emily McKenzie, the owner of <a href=\"https:\/\/eucadesign.com\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Euca Design<\/a>, finds that creating achievable boundaries and fully unplugging from work, even the creative side of work, results in more productive \u201con\u201d time. \u201cThe nature of my work is creative and if I don\u2019t nurture that, it shows. Taking breaks pays off in more ways than one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The American Psychological Association refers to this as not \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/monitor\/2019\/01\/break\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">exhausting the mental fuel<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But what can you do if you truly can\u2019t take much or any substantial time off right now?<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_things_to_do_if_you_cant_take_time_off_yet\"><\/span>3 things to do if you can\u2019t take time off *yet*<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p>Are you nodding along to the benefits of taking more time off, but it\u2019s truly not in the cards for your workload right now? Here\u2019s how to absorb some of the benefits anyway.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Combine work <em>with <\/em>taking time off. <\/strong>A simple manifestation of this is a working vacation, aka a <a href=\"https:\/\/writingfromnowhere.com\/how-to-plan-your-first-workation\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">workation<\/a> where you work remotely from a stimulating and contrasting environment to your normal environment.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Institutionalize microbreaks.<\/strong> My favorite tool for this tactic is the <a href=\"https:\/\/chrome.google.com\/webstore\/detail\/stretchclock-break-remind\/ghkmbokgfoemkgiccpdbjimhjijjenih?hl=en\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Stretch Clock Google Chrome Extension<\/a>. Every 25 minutes (or any other interval you set), a guided stretching exercise appears.<\/p>\n<p>If stretching isn\u2019t your style, the Pomodoro Technique is your next best bet. <a href=\"https:\/\/chrome.google.com\/webstore\/detail\/marinara-pomodoro%C2%AE-assist\/lojgmehidjdhhbmpjfamhpkpodfcodef?hl=en\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Try a Chrome extension<\/a> for that as well to keep you from getting sucked into the black hole of your phone.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Turn down the volume on hustle culture.<\/strong> This can manifest in the form of Instagram accounts you follow, podcasts you tune into, or any digital watercooler that you frequent.<\/p>\n<p>Tierra Bonds, the owner of <a href=\"https:\/\/takechargecc.com\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Take Charge Credit Consulting<\/a>, said that realizing she was stuck in the \u201cboss babe, hustle hard\u201d culture helped her enact change in her life. \u201cI realized I wasn&#8217;t going to get a gold medal for working 16-hour days. There were more important ways that I could spend my time like healing, self-care, spending time with family, and just BEING.\u201c<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s a realization that can benefit us all.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Next_steps\"><\/span>Next steps<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>On a scale of one to 10, how important is your mental fuel?<\/p>\n<p>Our busyness is not a badge of honor. We can control the amount of time that work consumes in our day.<\/p>\n<p>According to one study from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/opub\/ted\/2020\/79-percent-of-private-industry-workers-had-access-to-paid-vacation-leave-in-march-2019.htm\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>, 79% of private-industry American workers had access to paid vacation time (pre-pandemic). We might not have paid time off the same way as employed individuals, but entrepreneurs can learn from this. It\u2019s time to start taking time off for personal reasons, for self-care, for vacation, and ultimately, for productivity.<\/p>\n<p>Apparently, it\u2019s to our detriment not to.<\/p>\n<p>Or, as my stretching Google Chrome extension put it on one of today\u2019s breaks: \u201cRemember, it doesn\u2019t help to go too far.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I think this counts for your emotional state as much as it does for your neck muscles.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"follow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/garage\/how-to-take-time-off\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\">How to take time off: 7 tips to prioritize your health and business<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"follow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/garage\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\">GoDaddy Blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Source: Go Daddy Garage<\/p>\n<p id=\"kc_opp\"><small>Republished by  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.blogtrafficexchange.com\/\">Blog Post Promoter<\/a><\/small><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wondering how to take time off? You\u2019re not imagining it \u2014 it has, indeed, become increasingly difficult to do. Whatever the cause (and &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":93236,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23511],"tags":[126],"class_list":["post-93235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ebusiness-emarketing","tag-information"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/how-to-take-time-off-hammock-300x168-1.jpg?fit=300%2C168&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3k0YU-ofN","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":93008,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/5-financial-tips-for-millennial-business-owners.html","url_meta":{"origin":93235,"position":0},"title":"5 financial tips for millennial business owners","author":"admin","date":"April 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"This content should not be construed as financial advice. Always consult a financial professional regarding your specific financial situation. In 2017, I wrote an article about financial tips for millennial business owners. Five years later and two years into the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, I was surprised to find that most\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":93743,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/quick-seo-tips-to-boost-website-search-rankings.html","url_meta":{"origin":93235,"position":1},"title":"Quick SEO tips to boost website search rankings","author":"admin","date":"April 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"With billions of Google searches every single day, if your site isn\u2019t on the first page of results and, more specifically, among the top five or so results, well, your site might just be lost in the shuffle. Time to hunt for SEO tips, right? The fact of life is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/google-on-mobile-represents-seo-online-presence-audit-300x200-1.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":93638,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/weekly-news-for-designers-%e2%84%96-659.html","url_meta":{"origin":93235,"position":2},"title":"Weekly News for Designers \u2116 659","author":"admin","date":"April 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"8 Free Templates for Creating Memorable Openers in After Effects \u2013 Capture a viewer\u2019s attention with one of these impressive opener templates. Bringing Together Keyboard-only and Click-based UI Tests with keyboard-testing-library \u2013 This tutorial will show you how to test for keyboard navigation compatibility. Finer Grained Control Over CSS Transforms\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Affiliate Marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Affiliate Marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/affiliate-marketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"Envato Elements","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/speckyboy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/envato-elements-weekly-news.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":93462,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/9-tips-to-reduce-bounce-rate-and-boost-trust.html","url_meta":{"origin":93235,"position":3},"title":"9 tips to reduce bounce rate and boost trust","author":"admin","date":"April 14, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"One second. One glance. Everything rides on your customer\u2019s first impression. On average, you can expect roughly 50% of website traffic to bounce and leave the landing page without clicking or exploring what you have to offer. If your bounce rate is higher than a 50\/50 split, something needs to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":92345,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/tips-for-collaborating-with-other-web-designers.html","url_meta":{"origin":93235,"position":4},"title":"Tips for Collaborating with Other Web Designers","author":"admin","date":"April 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Solo freelancers are generally comfortable working alone. Still, there may be projects where you\u2019ll need to collaborate with other web designers. And while there are plenty of benefits, it can be a tricky scenario. Unlike those who routinely work as part of a team, the process of freelancers coming together\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Affiliate Marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Affiliate Marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/affiliate-marketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/working-with-other-designers-01.jpg?fit=900%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/working-with-other-designers-01.jpg?fit=900%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/working-with-other-designers-01.jpg?fit=900%2C400&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/working-with-other-designers-01.jpg?fit=900%2C400&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":92464,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/04\/weekly-news-for-designers-%e2%84%96-635.html","url_meta":{"origin":93235,"position":5},"title":"Weekly News for Designers \u2116 635","author":"admin","date":"April 26, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"kod.so \u2013 This browser app will help you create beautiful screenshots of your code snippets. 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