When you’re a team of one, you can’t exactly request PTO. That’s what makes stepping away, especially for a period longer than a single weekend, such a freakout-worthy task. 

Rest assured, fellow self-employed person: There is a way to do this peacefully.

But, before we get into the systems that allow folks to take much-needed time off, we should get into the science behind why breaks are so important. 

Your brain is NOT a computer! It operates in two modes, and chances are, you’re overusing one of them:

There's "focused mode,” AKA what you're in when you're drafting emails, building presentations, or learning something new. Then there's "diffuse mode," which is basically your brain's daydreaming state.

For a long time, scientists thought our brains basically went offline during diffuse mode. Turns out, that's not even close to accurate. Brain activity actually increases in many regions when we're zoning out.

This is why you get so many fantastic ideas on long walks, or in the shower.

Aside from the creative breakthroughs, the health implications of never stepping away are pretty bleak.

One study found that men at high risk for heart disease who didn't take annual vacations were 32% more likely to die from a heart attack.

Another study compared women who vacationed at least twice a year to those who took one every six years or less. The women who rarely vacationed were almost eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease or have a heart attack.

And if the threat of a heart attack isn't motivating enough, there's also this: research shows that vacations (especially ones taken in warmer climates) lead to increased productivity and less exhaustion when people return to work.

So yeah, taking a break is genuinely necessary for your brain to do its best work and, you know, for you to not die prematurely.

Now, these facts are all well and good, but when you’re a self-employed person, you don’t exactly get the benefit of slipping in a time-off sheet and turning work mode completely off.

The difference between entrepreneurs who are completely wired and constantly stressed and those who can confidently step away when they need to lies in one thing: systems.

While preparing for the holidays this year, I worked ~10 more hours than usual in the weeks leading up. That’s because, since my clients work on a contract of X posts per week, they can theoretically get completed, approved, & scheduled in advance. 

This might not be possible for everyone, but for me, it just made sense.

The only thing that you need to stay on top of pre-break is communicating exactly how long you’ll be gone. This way, they can’t say “Wait, I didn’t know you’d be gone!” and force you to open Slack during Christmas dinner.

A simple thing to do: 1-2 weeks before you’re OOO, add the dates to your email signature. 

“Upcoming OOO: 12/23–12/31,” easy as that.

While this might not be ideal for the holiday example, as many people may be preoccupied at that time, you can easily schedule other times away for subcontractors or employees.

As a ghostwriter, I pride myself on managing my clients’ LinkedIn accounts even while they’re long gone. Two examples:

It made me very happy to personally contribute to their much-needed R&R. If you can get past the relinquishing of control (which I know is a big barrier for some), you might find that giving someone else the reins is a huge weight off your shoulders.

I have to remind myself of this all the time: Work will always be there. Forever, whether we like it or not.

Yeah, there might be someone who’s productivity-maxxing and getting way ahead of you while you sit and spend quality time with your loved ones… but is that really something to be jealous of?

Really, think about it: The #2 regret of the dying, according to author Bronnie Ware? 

“I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.”

(Mic-drop!)

P.S. If you're struggling with what to post or how to make your content strategy actually work without selling your soul, reply to this email. I read every single one.