In today's 'always available' world there's a temptation for people running their own businesses to be constantly checking emails and social media at all hours of the day, every day of the week. How can you enjoy time off without feeling you're letting your customers down?

No matter how you look at it, taking time out with family and friends every now and then is important, and perhaps more so at Christmas time. In fact many busy business owners don't realise how important it is until they actually manage to do it.

The chance to recharge batteries doesn't just rest body and mind, it gives you a new perspective on your business as well as your work-life balance. Closing down for a few days won't stop you thinking about your business, but you can think about it in a more reflective, strategic way.

Many entrepreneurs get their greatest insights while relaxing and come back after a break renewed. They are reinvigorated and possess fresh clarity about next steps they need to take.

Set expectations

The first thing you have to do is decide which days you're not going to work. The second is to tell people - as early as possible

This is easier for retail and hospitality organisations. For a start, people will expect you to close and you can start by putting notices up in your premises. It's a bit harder for purely online businesses, particularly if you use social media as your routes to market.

Online urgency

An expectation seems to have grown up that if you're on social media, you should respond immediately. And if you don't, then you don't deserve the business.

Regular, accurate and consistent messages sent out in the run-up to Christmas will help set the expectation. Put up home page messages with closing times, then, closer to the time, set up auto-responders on email and social media channels. That way people will at least get a response, even if it's just to say that you won't be in touch for a day or two.

The worst thing that can happen is that customers receive no response at all. Set up an action plan for December to make sure all this gets done.

Set your own priorities

Having prepared your customers as best you can, it's time to be hard on yourself.

If you decide that you really must stay in touch with your business, define times when you will do that. It might be a few hours late at night, early in the morning, even both - it really depends on your own plans for the festive period.

Let everyone know those times so that everyone around you knows when you'll be working and what to expect. Try not to get too involved as well. If you think a conversation is going to get complex, try to answer it briefly but then say you'll come back to them in a few days' time with more details.

Be good to yourself

The biggest problem for people running their own businesses is feeling guilty about taking time off. It's important to realise that time off is valuable- for you and your business.

And if you're worried about losing a customer who's going to be irate because you didn't respond to their tweet within an hour on Christmas Day, well…. maybe they're unreasonable and would have been be a nightmare to work with anyway.

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