Entrepreneurship and Vacation: Is It Possible to go to on Vacation without your Email and a Laptop?

Challenges and Balance: Vacation Time for Entrepreneurs

Vacation time can be a challenging period for entrepreneurs, especially those who work independently and aren’t surrounded by many colleagues.

Increasingly, in large cities during the summer months, signs can be seen indicating that certain hospitality venues are closed due to collective vacation. This is often due to a shortage of staff.

This issue is particularly noticeable in the hospitality sector, but it also affects those in other industries where the owner is also the sole employee, leaving no one to delegate tasks to. As a result, some find themselves working during their vacation without the luxury of completely disconnecting.

How Do Entrepreneurs Spend Their Vacations?

Forbes Serbia asked entrepreneurs from various industries how they managed their vacations this summer. Can they completely disconnect and rest while ensuring their business doesn’t suffer? Are there those who skip vacations altogether to prevent business from halting?

Is There a Compromise When You’re an Entrepreneur?

Katarina Šonjić Vujić, founder of the Empple community and Employer Branding Strategist, states that when she goes on vacation, some of her work must pause.

“For example, direct activities with clients are something that, unfortunately, I currently cannot delegate. I inform clients in advance about my vacation and we organize together so that the business doesn’t suffer while I’m away. This means some tasks need to be completed beforehand to ensure everything runs smoothly,” Katarina explains to Forbes.

She emphasizes that summer is a time when she tries to spend as much time in nature as possible.

Thanks to the nature of her work, she manages to organize her activities so she can work by the sea, being completely offline for a few days and then available online for colleagues, urgent questions, or processes that cannot wait.

Balancing Acts and Prioritizing Relaxation

Maša Vlahović, who runs a family company with her mother, Life&Mind Studio—an educational center specialized in developing organizations and individuals—believes achieving balance in entrepreneurship is elusive.

“For someone, balance is the ability to turn off the computer at 5 PM and not bring work home. For others, it’s not receiving calls outside work hours. For some, it’s about workplace and time flexibility. And for others, it’s the ability to quiet their mind, to stop the flow of ideas and unfinished tasks… For someone like me, and I believe every entrepreneur, such balance is unattainable,” says Maša.

It’s Not the End of the World If You Don’t Respond to an Email Immediately

She notes that although they have pre-defined periods for vacations and travels, sometimes they don’t use them in the “standard” way.

In practice, this means that even while on vacation, you’re keeping an eye on your emails and responding to clients and colleagues.

“We go on vacation, travel, and enjoy, but we bring laptops and phones, and often find ourselves brainstorming while on the beach. And if we don’t respond to an email for a day or two, we know it’s not the end of the world,” says Maša.

Like Katarina, she also informs her clients that she’ll be on vacation, often via automatic email replies.

“I’ve taken some much-needed time off to relax, catch some sun, watch a series on Netflix, or just do nothing at all—at least for a while. But yes, I’ll be reading emails, though I might not reply as quickly. I’ll be back in the office on August 18th, ready for new challenges and adventures. Until then, feel free to email our team, or call me if it’s urgent. Happy holiday season!” reads Maša’s automatic email reply this summer.

Balancing Rest and Work

Those who are truly solo in their business find it hard to take a vacation without their business suffering or incurring losses.

This is evidenced by Tanja, the owner of a hair salon. She takes her vacation only during the summer months.

This involves closing her salon for three weeks at the end of July and the beginning of August when business is slower.

Besides being the owner, she is also the only employee.

Rest is Essential

The day before leaving for vacation, she places a notice on the door that they will be closed. She informs her clients in advance so they can organize their service needs and schedule their appointments timely.

She also tightens her schedule before and after the vacation and works at a slightly higher tempo to make up for the weeks she won’t be working.

“I have until the 15th of the month to earn enough to cover taxes and contributions, the cost of rent, utility bills, then for the invoices for the materials used, and the license for the cash register. Practically, I work three weeks to cover these costs, and only one week for myself and my earnings. That’s why I work six days a week, including Saturdays and holidays

Navigating the Challenges: Vacation Time for the Modern Entrepreneur

As an entrepreneurial spirit who finds joy in exploring the world, the concept of a vacation takes on a unique dimension. For business owners, especially those who manage their enterprises single-handedly, the mere thought of taking time off can be fraught with logistical hurdles.

In bustling cities, signs of “Closed for Collective Vacation” increasingly pop up across various businesses during the warmer months. It’s often not just about taking a break but a necessity due to labor shortages. This trend is particularly prevalent in the hospitality sector, where the lack of hands means even more effort for those who remain.

For entrepreneurs juggling multiple roles, the challenge intensifies. Owners, often the sole employees in their businesses, must find a way to step away while ensuring that operations continue seamlessly or gracefully pause without disruption.

The Entrepreneur’s Dilemma: Can You Really Switch Off?

Forbes Serbia reached out to entrepreneurs across different industries to understand how they approach vacations. Do they ever really switch off and relax, or does business always cast a shadow over their downtime? Some have found poignant ways to strike a balance, while others forgo the idea of a vacation entirely to keep their ventures afloat.

Seeking Balance: The Elusive Entrepreneurial Goal

Katarina Šonjić Vujić, candidly shares her experience. When she goes on vacation, parts of her work inevitably hit the pause button. “Direct client interactions are something I can’t delegate for now. I inform my clients ahead of my vacation, and together we plan so operations don’t falter in my absence. This often means some advance planning to keep things on track,” Katarina reveals.

Summer is also a time Katarina endeavors to spend immersed in nature. Her job’s flexible nature fortunately allows her to blend work and leisure, enabling her to spend days by the sea—sometimes completely offline, other times online for pressing queries or collaborative opportunities that can’t be postponed.

Compromises and the Need to Recharge

Maša Vlahović, leading Life&Mind Studio with her mother, paints a picture of why achieving balance in the entrepreneurial world might seem unreachable. Despite the freedom of running a business, the demands can feel relentless, stretching into spaces meant for relaxation.

“To some, balance might mean being able to turn off their laptops at 5 PM, leaving work behind. For others, it’s about not receiving work calls after hours or having flexible work conditions. But for entrepreneurs like me, turning our creative minds off entirely almost feels like a luxury unavailable,” Maša shares earnestly.

The Art of (Not Quite) Disconnecting

Even with predefined windows for rest and travel, there’s a unique kind of discipline involved in navigating life as a business owner. While on vacation, Maša might still monitor emails and respond to clients—a testament to how work subtly permeates through leisure.

“We embrace our vacations, travel, and enjoy—yet, laptops and phones are never far away. Often, we find ourselves on a beach brainstorming. If we don’t reply to an email immediately, we understand it’s manageable,” Maša quips.

Much like Katarina, Maša lets clients know about her vacation plans, often using automated email responses to manage expectations.

“I’ve taken a much-needed break to relax, catch some sun, watch Netflix, or simply do nothing as long as it lasts. But yes, I’ll be checking emails, though replies might come slower. I’ll return to the office on August 18th, ready for new challenges. Until then, feel free to contact our team by email or reach out to me by phone for urgent matters. Wishing you a wonderful vacation season!” reads Maša’s thoughtful automated email reply this summer.

Balancing Rest with Responsibilities

Entrepreneurs fully immersed in their businesses face real challenges when planning vacations, as seen with Tanja, a hair salon owner who takes annual leave only during summer. Her salon closes for three weeks at the end of July and the start of August, aligning with a typical slowdown in business.

As both owner and sole employee, Tanja schedules her time meticulously, ensuring to notify clients well in advance. Before leaving for vacation, she informs them personally and hangs a notice on her salon door.

Leading up to and following her time off, she adjusts her schedule to make up for the closure, working slightly more intensively to balance the scales.

Preparing for the Necessary Pause

“I need to earn enough for taxes, rent, utilities, and material costs by the 15th of every month. I effectively work three weeks to cover these expenses and only one for my earnings. That’s why I work six days a week, including Saturdays and holidays, except for May Day,” Tanja explains candidly to Forbes.

This article was taken and  enjoyed from Forbes Serbia.  I love it because the work-balance life in Europe still works a bit differently than in North America, and it is great to see and learn from the differences.

Anita Djordjevic