Wk19-Plan Summer Time Off
Summer Sabbatical
The sun’s finally out, and your calendar shouldn’t stay full just because you work for yourself. This week, I’m encouraging you to make a habit of planning for time off during the summer—whether it’s a full vacation, shorter workdays, or simply a few slow Fridays.
Habit of the week:
Wk19-Plan Summer Time Off
The sun’s finally out, and your calendar shouldn’t stay full just because you work for yourself. This week, I’m encouraging you to make a habit of planning for time off during the summer—whether it’s a full vacation, shorter workdays, or simply a few slow Fridays.
Why it matters:
You don’t need to disappear for two weeks (unless you want to!). But you do need to carve out regular space to recharge. Summer is short—and it’s a chance to step back, enjoy family or outdoor time, and come back refreshed.
Quick Start Guide:
Burnout creeps in when we don’t make space for rest. Planning time off ahead of time—especially during the summer—gives you a better shot at maintaining your energy and focus long-term. Plus, if you have kids at home or just want to soak up the good weather, you won’t regret it.
Cami's Tips
- Look Ahead: Review your summer calendar now. Block off any vacations or long weekends before client projects take over.
- Batch Your Work: Group tasks together and work ahead so you can truly relax during your scheduled time off.
- Set Expectations: Let clients know in advance if you’ll be out of office or have summer hours. Most will understand and appreciate the heads-up.
- Use Auto-Replies: Even if you’re only stepping away for a few hours, a simple autoresponder can help protect your time.
- Be Realistic: If a full vacation isn’t doable, plan for half-days, long lunches, or no-meeting Fridays.
Routine Checkpoint:
- Try Summer Fridays: Even if you just stop working at noon every Friday, you’ll feel the difference.
- Read More: Make a summer reading list—business books or beach books. Just something that helps you unplug.
- Get Outside: Garden, ride your bike, walk to get coffee. Schedule time to enjoy summer on purpose.
- Don’t Work Through It All: Trust me, your business will survive if you take time off. And it might even thrive because of it.
- Protect the Time: Don’t let “one quick call” or “one fast fix” creep into your time off. Block it. Respect it.
What's Your Take?
Remember, you work hard. You deserve a break. Don’t wait for burnout—plan around it.
about the author
Cami MacNamara is a web designer and owner of WebCami LLC, a Seattle-based agency since 2002. She created Web Designer Habits to help solopreneurs build smarter systems, stay productive, and run a business that works for them.
Podcast Episode:
Are you planning time off this summer? What are your strategies for balancing client work with downtime? Share your thoughts with #WebDesignerHabits and let’s hold each other accountable to step away—at least a little.