Out of office: a guide to taking a holiday from your smartphone

My “aha” moment came on holiday about five years ago. Despite telling my team that I didn’t want to be disturbed and I wouldn’t be replying to emails, I found myself firing off replies to everything in my inbox. Then came the email marked “urgent”, which said: “Shall we print the phone number in blue or black on the new letterhead?” I knew then that I had a problem.

As an entrepreneur, your business is dependant on you much more than a larger company, which might have several directors who can take up the slack during holiday season. But that means it’s even more essential for you to be able to take a proper break and come back refreshed.

People who run their own businesses are prone to burnout and stress because of the belief (which I used to share) that you have to be connected 24/7, and that if you’re not your business will suffer. There’s an omnipresent fear that the biggest and best opportunity will come at precisely the moment you’ve decided to go off-grid.

So how do you get the downtime you need without becoming anxious about what might happen while you’re away?

Tell people you will be out of reach

Inform everyone, including key suppliers and clients, about your plan. Be clear about the dates you will be unavailable and the back-up plan (see below) if something crops up. You’ll probably find that everyone is less worried about you being away than you are, but make sure everyone understands what you’re doing and why.

Have a back-up plan

If you want to properly disconnect for your break make sure you have arrangements in place for emergencies. Giving a landline number on which you can be contacted and having someone check your email are ideal. If the latter isn’t feasible, make sure your out-of-office message has the landline number and explains that there might be a delay in responding and if possible add the details of someone in your team who will be able to deal with inquiries. Anyone who does email you will then think twice about how urgent it is before picking up the phone and calling.

Get a dumbphone

If leaving your phone behind isn’t an option, swap your sim into a dumbphone with no internet connectivity. You will be able to make and receive calls on your existing number but will not be able to go online, which should stop you from getting sucked back into work mode.

Remove work emails from your phone

This is hard for any entrepreneur to do but your business should be able to survive for a week or so without you checking your email. If your emails are on your phone and you keep replying, you will get disturbed by issues that don’t need your immediate attention (as I was by the letterhead problem). If there is a crisis, or golden opportunity, and you’ve laid your back-up plans carefully, you will be contactable. So you don’t need to be on email.

Switch off your notifications

If you must have your smartphone with you, go through every app and switch off all the push notifications for the duration of your holiday. That way you control when you are going to check for emails and messages, and your phone isn’t a constant distraction. It will cut down on the number of times you check it and give you some breathing space.

Designate device-free zones

Set aside times and places when you will be phone-free. Maybe you can leave it behind during meal times. Or you can go out for the day without it (safe in the knowledge you can check it when you get back). You can also limit the time of day that you check your phone – for example, only after breakfast, or not looking at it after 7pm.

Research [pdf] shows we are less productive when we are constantly tethered to our phones. To have a chance to solve some of the bigger challenges your business might face, you must put down your devices and give yourself the mental space you need to tackle them.

Tanya Goodin is the founder of the digital detox consultancy Time To Log Off and author of Off.

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