195. [Re-Release]: Why Taking Time Off Is the Secret to Sustained Solopreneur Success - Soundbite Episode

In today's sound bite episode, we’re tackling a topic that hits home for every solopreneur: taking time off. 

As a solopreneur, your time is your currency—stepping away from work can feel like a trade-off between relaxation and revenue, or between recharging and losing momentum.

But here’s the thing: burnout isn’t good for business, and neither is running on empty. So, how do you balance the need to step back without feeling like your business is stepping backward?

Stick around, because in this episode, we’ll share actionable strategies to plan your time off and manage client expectations!

Being a solopreneur is awesome but it’s not easy. It's hard to get noticed. Most business advice is for bigger companies, and you're all alone...until now. LifeStarr's SoloSuite Intro gives you free education, community, and tools to build a thriving one-person business.  So, if you are lacking direction, having a hard time generating leads, or are having trouble keeping up with everything you have to do, or even just lonely running a company of one, be sure to check out SoloSuite Intro!

Access SoloSuite Intro

Episode Transcript

Carly Ries (00:00):
Today, we're tackling a topic that hits home

(00:02):
for every solopreneur, takingtime off. As a solopreneur, your
time is your currency. Steppingaway from work can feel like a
trade off between relaxation andrevenue or between recharging
and losing momentum. But here'sthe thing. Burnout isn't good
for business, and neither isrunning on empty.
So how do you balance the needto step back without feeling
like your business is steppingbackward? Stick around because

(00:24):
in this episode, we'll shareactionable strategies to plan
your time off and manage clientexpectations to make your
business run as best as it can.
You're listening to The Aspiring Solopreneur, the
podcast for those just takingthe bold step or even just
thinking about taking that stepinto the world of solo
entrepreneurship. My name isCarly Ries, and my cohost, Joe

(00:46):
Rando, and I are your guides tonavigating this crazy but
awesome journey as a company ofone. We take pride in being part
of LifeStarr, a digital hubdedicated to all aspects of
solopreneurship that hasempowered and educated countless
solopreneurs looking to build abusiness that resonates with
their life's ambitions. We helppeople work to live, not live to

(01:08):
work. And if you're looking fora get rich quick scheme, this is
not the show for you.
So if you're eager to gain valuable insights from
industry experts on running abusiness the right way the first
time around or want to learnfrom the missteps of
solopreneurs who've paved theway before you, then stick
around. We've got your backbecause flying solo in business
doesn't mean you're alone.

Joe Rando (01:29):
So Carly, here's the pattern that I see a lot. You
start a solo business to havemore control over your life, and
then it's time to take some timeaway, you know holiday, a
vacation, whatever it is, andwhat happens? You're really
busy, right? And you have areally clear idea how much there
is to do.
So you either you feel guiltywhen you take the time away,

(01:52):
you're not really present whenyou take that time away, or
worst of all you don't take thetime away. I wish I could tell
you I know all this fromspending so much time talking to
solopreneurs, but it's actuallytotally firsthand.

Carly Ries (02:08):
Yeah. Oh, absolutely. it's funny. I think
last week, I wrote a post that'scoming after the heels of
Thanksgiving, this recordingthat we're doing right now. It
was early December.
And I did something that waslike, take time off, they said.
It would be great, they said.And then I said and they were
right. I was a little hesitantbecause most people can take

(02:30):
Thanksgiving off because theyuse PTO or something like that.
They're still getting paid.
Not most people, but a lot ofemployed people. And for me,
it's like, well, if I take thistime off, my paycheck's gonna be
smaller this month, and it'slike weighing out the pros and
cons. And it's a tough battlebecause you need that paycheck.
You know what I mean? Especiallythe holiday season when spending

(02:54):
can get so out of control forsome people.

Joe Rando (02:57):
I'm telling you, it's funny because one of things I
noticed when I first started myown business, I had had some
jobs before that. And I startedthe business like it's so weird
I don't know when holidays are.I used to know when all the
holidays were and everythingelse and all of a sudden I'm
like not noticing that anymorelike oh in two weeks it's
whatever. I remember one time Iwas trying to set a meeting with

(03:21):
this guy and I was really bookedup and we're going through the
dates back and forth on emailsbefore Calendly was a thing. And
I threw out a date at him and hecame back he said, sure that
works.
Should I bring the turkey? Itwas Thanksgiving.

Carly Ries (03:35):
Yeah. Well, and it's so funny. we're actually now
road tripping for a little bitduring the holidays. We'll be
here part of the time, roadtripping for part of the time.

Joe Rando (03:45):
Carly road tripping. I've never heard of such a
thing.

Carly Ries (03:48):
I know. Listeners that don't know me, we are quite
the road trippers. But in mymind, I'll work when we're in
the car. I'll work beforeeverybody gets up. it doesn't
strike me to take time offbecause I figure out the pockets
where I can get stuff done.
But then at the same time, I'mlike, but this is the holidays.

(04:09):
Do I need to get up beforeeverybody else, and do I need to
work in the car? It's just sucha dance. I think the
recommendation I have for peopleis to take that time. Whether
it's half a day or whether it'sa full week, just take some time
to recharge and reflect.
But I also understand somepeople do have to work. Like, it

(04:30):
can be a luxury to take thattime for yourself. But if you
could squeeze in any bit of timeover the holiday season for some
you time, go get a massage, godo whatever you need to get you
more clear to start the newyear, I so recommend
prioritizing that free timebecause you will come back

(04:51):
faster, more efficient thanever, in my opinion. What about
you?

Joe Rando (04:54):
Well, what I've come up with is a three step process
and you see me putting it intoaction right now. And the first
step is to plan for the timeoff. So Christmas, New Year's,
I'm not working. I've got mykids coming up.
We're gonna have a house full. Iam so psyched about it. So plan

(05:15):
for it. So I'm putting in extratime now, to get a little bit
ahead. You saw the other day Iwas like, oh, I gotta get more
chapters done on you knowSolopreneur Business for
Dummies.
And you're like, well we're ingood shape. I'm like, no, I
gotta get more done because Idon't want to worry about that
when they come in that weekbetween Christmas and New
Year's. So that's the firstthing is to put a little extra

(05:36):
time ahead.
The second thing is to tellpeople that you're going to be
out for a while, you know.You're going to check out and
you're to be away from theoffice and unless the house is
on fire I'm probably not goingto respond. And just set those
expectations with yourcustomers. Most people you know
are good people and understandthat you need some time for

(05:56):
yourself and your family.setting those expectations in
advance is a lot easier thansurprise I didn't call you back.
And then lastly, know thatyou're going to play some catch
up when you get back. So if youtake time away, know it's got to
be a little bit of work but it'sreally worth it to invest that
time before and after to havethat really true downtime where

(06:18):
you're not sitting therethinking about the job. So
that's how I handle it. Itdoesn't always go perfectly
smoothly but I've managed todevelop an ability to kind of
take the business, put it overhere, and enjoy the time with
the family, which I wasn't verygood at before.

Carly Ries (06:37):
Yeah. And I would say cut yourself some slack.
Like you just said, we're notperfect either. I mean, I said,
oh, Thanksgiving was totallyworth taking that time off.
And I'm still playing catch up,and I'm still behind where I
wanna be. But I have toremember, like you and I were
saying, some of these deadlineswere self imposed even though we
are very strict usually aboutour self imposed deadlines. But
give yourself some grace, enjoythat time with your friends and

(07:00):
family, and hit the groundrunning as best you can in the
New Year. And Joe, I thinkthat's all I have for today. Is
there anything else you wantedto add?

Joe Rando (07:11):
I guess just that, we've given some advice and
people might be thinking, oh,it's not gonna work, I can't do
that, it's not gonna work forme. You know if that's true you
probably need to rethink yourbusiness right? If you really
can't take time away, reallytake some time to not be worried
about the business or working inthe business, you probably need

(07:34):
to make some changes and morethan likely you're wrong about
that. You just, you're feelingit, you're passionate, you get
some stress because it's yours,but you're probably wrong and
you can as long as you prep,you'll be okay.

Carly Ries (07:47):
Yep. Could not have said it better myself. So
listeners, enjoy this holidayseason. If you are listening to
this after the holiday season,remember it's okay to take
breaks throughout the year aswell. But that is all we have
for you today.
As always, don't forget to leavethat five star review. Subscribe
on your favorite platform,including YouTube, and we will
see you next time on TheAspiring Solopreneur. You may be

(08:11):
going solo in business, but thatdoesn't mean you're alone. In
fact, millions of people are inyour shoes, running a one person
business and figuring it out asthey go. So why not connect with
them and learn from each other'ssuccesses and failures?
At LifeStarr, we're creating aone person business community
where you can go to meet and getadvice from other solopreneurs.
Be sure to join in on theconversations at

(08:32):
community.LifeStarr.com.