How much time can you afford to be taking off over the holidays?

[Peter Bestel]

More than any other time, it's this time of year that makes me appreciate Internet Marketing.

It's not just the money, it's the flexibility.

My daughter will be off for two weeks from school and there's a bunch of parties and visiting to be enjoyed. It's just fantastic that we can virtually pull the plug on the computer and still be making money.

Having said that, we probably won't switch off entirely. We'll still be putting in the odd hour or two - but crucially, not because we HAVE to but because we WANT to.

Factoring holidays into your business is very important and often overlooked when planning a year.

How do you approach balancing the business with your holidays?

[MichaelHiles]

In the "offline" space, things are a little slower.

I'm getting ready to take paternity leave anyway. :-)

[Heuristic]

From Dec 23 to Jan 4, I'll just be checking my email. No article writing, building sites, backlinks, etc. This is the first year that my business will be able to sustain a break like that.

I agree that the flexibility in IM is amazing.

[BIG Mike]

For us, it's always a case of family first and like you, have a lot of things planned over the next month or so. In addition to Christmas, we've got 2 birthday parties, tons of visitors and visiting to do, plus a weekend away in January (taking our teaching staff on holiday to a mountain resort as a Christmas bonus).

Fortunately, our online business activities aren't reliant on me personally being available 24/7 - There are others to take care of things and vice versa. I will check in periodically, more out of boredom (getting away from the visitors for a break, LOL) than anything else, but business won't skip a beat while I'm tied up.

One thing that worked out well (not planned) is that I live in the northern hemisphere and Diego in the southern one. That means our seasons are reversed...during my winter, he's hanging out at the beach and not working much, while I focus more on business and then it reverses itself, where he's doing more and I'm at the beach or traveling.

It also helps that everyone involved knows exactly what is going on and what to do, whether it's me or even our JavaBean Matias. We have excellent organizational communication with everyone in the loop.

It works

[Jill Carpenter]

What's a holiday?

[GoGetta]

I agree Peter, this time of the year makes me appreciate this whole business! To be honest, I always think I will take a week off but I know in my heart of hearts I won't. I enjoy IM too much.

Love the exccitement of making money online, love the excitement of new projects, love it all. So, its doubtful I will have a full day off. ANyhow, if I take a day off, my email overflows!

But, on saying that I will be closing the office in the OFFLINE ARENA for a week or 2! I don't want my office phone ringing with clients when I am not there. So that side of IM will shut for 2 weeks, does that count??? hehe

GoGetta

[Peter Bestel]

I'm so grateful I don't work for a living

I guess we should spare a thought for all those folks that will be working over the holiday period - plenty of who would rather not be.

Peter

[JayXtreme]

4 weeks...

Right now, we have planned a 4 week shut down. We do have active promotions running, but all of them are being monitored by someone else, just in case of "emergency".

Family, gifts, Wine, Beer and Plenty food ... Christmas really is one of those times of year that I like to enjoy.

Peace

Jay

p.s. Having said that....I'm never too far away from technology, even if I'm not actually working...

[Rachel Goodchild]

Planning a holiday- BUT I'm actually looking forward to writing a book in that time- not because I have to - but because I want to. crazy really...