BEFORE you start a new year, plan eight weeks worth of holiday and schedule them into your diary.

You must take eight weeks off, this is for the benefit of your business and you, says Dan Priestly, author of Key Person of Influence and Entrepreneurs Revolution.

I thought he was having a laugh when he told me this, but if you follow any of the Entrevo Team (Dan’s business) on social media, you will see that during the month of August they are not about, they are sunning themselves in Capri, Thailand or Australia.

OK, they may pop back for a couple of days to check up on emails and touch base with some of their clients, but then they are off again, on a plane, somewhere else to rest, have the sun on their face and regroup.

It is only now that I understand why this is so important.

If you run your own business, or work in a high-pressured job, your body and your mind needs those eight weeks to recharge.

So how do you take a holiday when you are self employed, and let your clients and potential clients know you are not around?

1. Forewarned is forearmed. I hope that you speak to your clients regularly, if not on the phone, at least by email.

It is important that you communicate with them. So, about a month before you are due to go away, call them and explain the dates you are on holiday.

Give them enough notice to give you any work they need doing so you don’t leave them in the lurch.

2. Ensure that you have changed your voicemail with the dates you are away.

In your telephone voicemail direct callers to your social media accounts, something like ‘Sorry we are not around, follow me on Twitter @kennedy_pr, and I will be back on August 25. I will call you back upon my return.’

3. Have your email set up with an out of office, and again make sure you direct them to social media, or better still someone else who can hold the fort while you are away.

4. Finish all your work before you go away, do not leave anything that should be sorted.

5. Send an email to your clients a few days before you leave with the dates you are going to be away.

You need to tell them that you are not available, it is allowed, you do need a holiday.

Follow these simple rules and you should have a great time, and with no worries.

Most clients will respect you need a holiday and let you have one.

By doing some extra work before you go, you shouldn’t have to do extra work when you get back.