Summer is in full swing and as entrepreneurs, this can be exciting and a little daunting. When you’re pretty much the only one behind the business – as is the case with most solopreneurs – being completely off the grid might be impossible, but that doesn’t mean you can’t manage to create a travel plan that works for YOU. In this post, we break down how you prepare to take time off, how to you create the perfect blend of online/offline, how you can keep your business running while you’re off exploring exotic locations or simply resting and enjoying some well-deserved downtime and how to truly make the most of it so you can come back fully recharged. 

📅 Planning is king

Map out everything that’s on your plate on a daily basis – much like your usual schedule – but allow for longer breaks or ‘offline’ moments during the day. Schedule all your client calls or client projects at the same time every day, so you know you can’t plan anything during those hours, but you can curate your schedule around that instead.

📮 Automation is queen

You don’t want your clients to feel like you’re off the grid (even when you will be), but your schedule might be a little different than your usual office hours. Make sure you have some automated emails and pre-scheduled social posts so the front of your house has its lights on while you get busy exploring. If you can afford it, hire a VA to support you when you need to switch off completely. ​​​​​​​​

💵 Money, money, money

Make sure you research your destinations and put a budget together, always have a bit of cash on hand (especially in Southern Europe) and sort out that card limit beforehand to avoid any transaction failures while you’re on the road. Having a budget mapped out will give you peace of mind that you’re not overspending and find yourself stressed out once you get back to the office, or if you’re deciding to stay on the road a little longer, it’ll indicate how many clients you need to work with to keep yourself going.

✨ Meet up with other creatives

I’ve just come back from a weekend in Florence where I met the amazing Diana Davis from Diana Davis Creative, and the potency of IRL connections is absolutely unparalleled. If you have the opportunity to meet up with other entrepreneurs and creatives, DO IT! Talk about your travel plan on Instagram, scan some one those Expat/Nomad Facebook Groups and get together. You’ll be surprised at what can come of meeting fellow business owners…

🖥 Handle your tech

Make sure you’ve got the right on-the-go accessories if you’re planning to work while you travel. We’re taking power adapters, portable mouse and keyboard, as well as all your digital storage sorted out so you can access anything you need. Wherever your remote desk ends up being, it needs to feel almost as comfy as your home office!​​​​​​​​

📵 Go off the grid

Allow yourself moments to step away from your biz and do life. We know it might not be realistic for you to be 100% offline from your biz for 2 weeks at a time, but we also know it’s perfectly doable (if planned properly) to take it one day at a time and make sure you’re intentionally shutting everything off and enjoying pure, unadulterated relaxation time. You need it as much as your business does. Trust us, we’ve hustled long enough to know that it’s not a luxury, it’s a must-have…

Join the conversation on Instagram at @groundworkclub and tell us how you’re planning your summer! We want to know <3

‘Til next time.

G.