[simon knight]

I've not had a break since July last year and really feel like I need a week away from w/c to recharge myself before the December rush.

How much hols do you guys take a year?

[Mike_G]

Not as much as I would like or need. One week a year and if I am lucky a long weekend

[Village Gleam]

A two weeker, and a three weeker.

[xxmattyxx]

2 fortnights away a year, I want to increase this to 3 trips a year, because Im worth it !!

[S.A.J]

At the end of this year I would have had 7 weeks off in total  

Aiming for 10 weeks next year, Maybe thats pushing it a bit  

[NWH]

March =10 days,august or september = 1 week.It`s important to take a break to recharge the batterys,i`ve just come back from holiday on friday and i feel ready to go all over again for another 6 months or so,can`t emphasize enough the need for the odd break.

[simon knight]

March =10 days,august or september = 1 week.It`s important to take a break to recharge the batterys,i`ve just come back from holiday on friday and i feel ready to go all over again for another 6 months or so,can`t emphasize enough the need for the odd break.

Make you right. For the passed few weeks I've not enjoyed my work. Believe it or today it really clouded over and I wanted it to pour down so I'd have the excuse to go home

Yep definitely need a week off.

[Tosh]

You do need to plan time off in this job; otherwise you just end up feeling burnt out and taking days off here, there, and everywhere; not working a full day either.  You'll find that with a PLANNED week off, you'll work harder towards that time off - enjoy the time off - and find your batteries charged more after it.

I've just really recently learnt this from experience, after five years of working without a proper planned break of at least a week off; with nothing to do with window cleaning.

Unfortunately I spent my week off DIYing, but hey, a change is as good as a rest.

[Helen]

IF you employed you would have to allow for 20+ days off, so why not treat yourself with the same or even more

[NWH]

Lets not get into the stupid topic of employees.

[pjulk]

I tend to take a week off at easter with the kids.
I had two weeks in the summer.
I will have another week in october when the kids are on half term.
xmas i will have about 10 days.

Now i can see why i don't get round in 4 weeks any more.

But this is one reason i clean windows if i want time off i just take it.


Paul

[djhaydn]

2 weeks and i go wednesday to sunny greece,
no windows for 2 whole weeks, the only glass i will see is the one in my hand with beer in it.
nice........
Haydn

[Lizzy]

not had a holiday in 5 or 6 years.   Oh, except 1 night in London each December.  I catch the train after work on a saturday and come home on sunday, ready for work monday AM.

[Trevor Knight]

You do need to plan time off in this job; otherwise you just end up feeling burnt out and taking days off here, there, and everywhere; not working a full day either.  You'll find that with a PLANNED week off, you'll work harder towards that time off - enjoy the time off - and find your batteries charged more after it.

I've just really recently learnt this from experience, after five years of working without a proper planned break of at least a week off; with nothing to do with window cleaning.

Unfortunately I spent my week off DIYing, but hey, a change is as good as a rest.

This is so true, in the early years I worked every hour god sent and never had any other interests other than my business.

I did this for 7 years and run myself into the ground at the added expense of my marriage. I then decided I wanted more me time and since then regularly have 2 long haul holidays a year for 3 weeks at a time and have a few longer weekends during the year with my family.

I now enjoy work, work smarter and not harder and have a fantastic family life. Funny thing is that since the change of attitude all those years ago I found my company grew at a rate that I couldn't achieve working every hour available!!

[DASERVICES]

We need to remember we entered into this trade to escape the rat race, so you need to make sure your business does not turn into one.

I've made the mistake where you find it hard to take time off, now I have revamped my round so I can at least take 3 weeks in a year and weekends with the family. One thing I am thinking about is taking the whole month off in January as it is always the worst month to work in.

You have to build your business around your needs and the family, it's hard to start off but worth it in the end.

[Helen]

If you work hard when starting up your business, work smart and plan ahead, then after a few years it will come right. Yes when you start up, you don't take time off as much as you should, but if you were to ask Mr Sugar and Mr Branson how much hols they took in their first few years I bet it would be minimal. It's amazing the amount of customers that ask us if we never take a holiday? yeah right!! it's just that they have never been on the schedule when we are away! Their turn will come!

[Neil271052]

None at the moment, but then I only work three of four hours a day so my whole life is a holiday. 

My wife has an office cleaning business which makes it very difficult for us to get away.

[tacky]

4 days minehead last year . 4 days this year sept ember long live rock n roll

[Paul Coleman]

I seem to be taking nearly two weeks off in every six as I don't havew a full workload.  However, most of it isn't REAL time off.  I might get a full week off and a few odd days.  Alsao, I don't often go away.  I've been away for one week this year and the same last year - both breaks in this country.  I intend to get at least a week in Spain next year.

[eddie d]

had about 5 weeks .but what tosh says is so true .