Staycation: the small business owner's key to work life balance

"How do you manage everything and still stay sane?" Being a small business owner is full of challenges and rewards. One key to happiness and sanity? Taking regular breaks!

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#Staycation was wonderful!!

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One of my dearest friends manages our fabulous clothing boutique in town, BlueTique Cheap Chic. She and I have both dealt with the incredible variety of challenges and joys that come with small business management.

One challenge is feeling like you're never EVER going to be done with everything, or even one page of your sprawling to-do list. Funds are likely tight, and while a flight to somewhere warm sounds wonderful, it isn't likely realistic.

Enter: STAYCATION!

One year ago, Ashley and I have instituted a strict and wonderful schedule of one staycation day per quarter. We pick a week day, mark our calendars and protect it from any other appointment or activity with the diligence of a mama bear. There are usually many explanation points in the shared google event. We look forward to it for weeks, and have many excited conversations to plan the menu, the drinks and spa activities, movies, shows and outfits.

Over the summer staycation, we invited Rachel, owner of Lane and Kate to join the fun, on a provisional basis. She brought fun spa stuff, braided our hair added her wild and wonderful dancing to the mix. She is invited for life!

On our most recent staycation, the three of us began with a slumber party at Ashley's new house. We drank spiced rum in hot cider, munched on popcorn and gabbed on the couch.

Usually we have an early morning hike; we would hate to miss a minute of our precious staycation day! This time, we were all so exhausted (new house, remodel at the store and rebrand, extensive travel, etc)  that we actually slept in. We had our first breakfast, Rachel braided our hair, enjoyed a later morning hike (watch out for those electric fences...), and spend the rest of the day lounging about. We discovered a new show, Call the Midwife, took turns soaking our feet in the heated spa and using the shoulder massager.

It is so good to recharge.

Staycation Menu:

First Breakfast

• Coffee
• Peanut butter sandwiches and honey crisp apples

Second breakfast

• Crepes with butternut squash, goat cheese and maple syrup
• More coffee

Snack

• Hot tea
• Fruit cake from my recent trip to Vermont

Lunch

• Black bean and pumpkin soup
• Crusty bread and sharp cheddar cheese

Snack

• Dates stuffed with marscapone cheese and maple syrup (I forgot the pumpkin! Eek!)

Alllllll day long

• Hot cider and spiced rum

Don't forget: you're the boss! You don't have to ask anyone else to take a day off. While there are many challenges that small business owners encounter, there are some rather special perks too - take full advantage of them and enjoy a much deserved day off!

Next staycation: chocolate themed! Stay tuned...