Do you have a plan “if life gets in the way”?
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My sister recently broke her leg after falling off a ladder. The injury brought life in her busy family with four kids to a screeching halt. And it got me thinkingâŚwhether itâs the upcoming holidays or a family emergency, do you have a plan for your business âif life gets in the wayâ?
I think as business owners, we often think âI canât take time off for the holidaysâ. Or âkeeping my fingers crossed my kids donât get sickâ. But the fact is you can take time off. And you donât have to fear stepping away from your business in case of emergency. All it takes is what Iâm calling an âif life gets in the wayâ plan.
Creating this plan helps you identify what actually MUST be done if there is an emergency. Or if youâd like to take time off. It solves the problem of feeling stressed before you go on vacation because you know what to focus on. And after because there is less playing catch up. It helps you identify tasks to delegate if your kid gets sick. Or you need to take time away to help your sister with her 4 kids when sheâs shattered her tibia.
Can you take some time to identify those priority tasks that will keep you afloat or that are absolutely necessary? Then you can create a plan in case of emergency. Or in case of vacation. Or in case of the holidays.
If you havenât previously identified your priorities, you may have just ignored your work if an emergency arose. This could lead to stress of playing catch up when you return to it. Or you might stress yourself out getting all your ducks in a row before a vacation. And then you miss the first few days of relaxation trying to un-wind what you wound up the week before.
Right now, you might be looking at the holiday season and think âthereâs no way I can take any time offâ. Or âIâm afraid if I pull back I will lose momentumâ. When it comes to thinking about someone in your family getting sick or injured, do you think âIâll just cross that bridge when I come to itâ? But the holidays are stressful enough. Living during a pandemic is stressful enough. Donât add to your stress levels when you could prevent that stress with a little extra planning now.
Creating your âif life gets in the wayâ plan helps you stay present during your vacation. And lessen the stress when emergencies arise. And who wouldnât want to enjoy vacations more? Or lessen the stress in case of emergency?
As you create this plan, you will start to see where you need to focus your time and energy. Whether you are prepping for time off or simply your regular workweek.
And youâll be able to be that friend or family member who can swoop in to help at a momentâs notice. Along with staying more present during the time off with your family. Youâve create the piece of mind that what is necessary is complete so you can sit back and enjoy. Or help.
3 Steps to Create Your “If Life Gets In the Way” Plan
If this sounds like something youâd like to incorporate ASAP, Iâve got 3 super simple steps to make creating you âif life gets in the wayâ plan.
- What MUST Completed? â First, you must determine your priorities. I know, broken record, right? But this is why it is so absolutely crucial that you figure out what must be done on your daily and weekly to-do list in order to keep your business afloat, continue to serve and grow your community, and move you toward your goals. If you arenât sure what your priority tasks might be, pick up my FREE Priority Recipe here.
- Eliminate the Unnecessary â Once youâre determined the priority tasks, identify what can go in case of emergency or if you are taking time off. We all have âfluffâ on our to-do list. Or tasks that are great but not necessary. Those are the tasks we can let go of when we need the time off. You can always add them back in later. Or maybe youâll find you didnât need them anyway.
- Delegate What You Don’t Finish â After weâve decided what we must do and what we can eliminate, figure out if there are tasks you can delegate. Delegating could mean hiring someone to post on social media. Or scheduling your posts for that week. (Delegating to technology is still delegating). Depending on how much time you need or want to take off, there may not necessarily be a ton of tasks that need your hand. But if it is something to complete and it doesnât require your specific expertise, pass it off to a VA, team member, or an automated system.
Ready to start creating your âif life gets in the wayâ plan of action? Be sure to grab Your Priority Recipe to set your priority tasks. Then eliminate anything that isnât absolutely necessary during the time you need off. And figure out the tasks to delegate that donât need your specific expertise. I want you to feel comfortable taking time off whether for pleasure or emergencies. If youâre struggling to figure out your plan, drop a comment below. Or reach out to me via DM on Instagram or Facebook. Just search for Business Savvy Mama.
Grab my free mini-course â10 Tips for Working While Kids are Homeâ here!
