THE BEAST

Getting away from it all is a holiday tradition nearly as old as time itself. Every December, though, business owners have to face the dreaded prospect of making their business run without them. One of the best ways for people to enjoy a holiday break and not worry about work is by getting tasks off their plate before they go on vacation.

You can outsource many tasks you don't want to do, thanks to the internet. Here are some tips our team at DrDabber has come up with to help you get through your next holiday season stress-free.

Don't even go in. Taking a few days off in December can give you a boost as you head into the New Year. To cut down on the guilt, tell your boss that you need to be away to spend time with your family or to deal with an important family matter. You'll come back refreshed, not frazzled.

Try vaping.

Vaping with Dr. Dabber's starter kit is a great way to get the best of both worlds. Going out and enjoying a social environment while keeping things calm and relaxing. Our favorite place to vape is out there in the town or at a concert or party. Vape pens and e-cigs are odorless and tasteless so that you can vape pretty much anywhere.

The other nice thing about vaping is that it contains none of the carcinogens from smoking cigarettes. You can vape for 10 hours straight, and it will do no damage to your lungs or throat. Vaping won't leave you with a nasty cigarette breath, it won't make your teeth yellow, and it won't give you cancer and lung cancer either. If you're trying to quit smoking cigarettes, e-cigarettes have some real appeal because they still give you the feel of smoking but follow up with none of the negative side effects.

Do some moving and grooving.

Holiday parties are one of the best parts of the holiday season, but it can be hard to get into a festive mood when your mind is consumed with work. Fortunately, there are simple ways to enjoy your holiday break and not worry about work.

You can start by putting on some festive music that gets you moving and grooving – we love these three playlists for getting in the holiday spirit. Sway your hips to old-school hits from Michael Bublé. Kick up your heels to a country-twanged dance party from Florida Georgia Line. Make it a waltz with Josh Groban and David Foster.

Get a professional massage .

If you've been working hard all year, then treat yourself to a professional massage. Look for qualified masseuses, therapists and holistic healers who've been properly trained and can care for your aches and pains.

Dabber is a strong advocate for good physical health. On average, most entrepreneurs and professionals spend 8 hours in front of their computers or mobile devices. For us, it's a lot more than that – 12-hour days are pretty common, so it's important we make time for self-care. Here are some great tips for you to get a professional massage without breaking the bank:

1. Ask for a gift card for a massage.

Ask family members to get you a gift card for your favorite massage, beauty or nail salon. This way, you can schedule an appointment with no hesitation.

2. Find a "Friends" type of massage parlor.

Some massage businesses have monthly passes or offer promotions. They offer one free massage per month; they will usually have membership options to become part of that club and get a free massage each time you visit the business.

3. Get a deal online.

There are online businesses that offer deals such as this - one example of this is Groupon which offers various spa deals and gift certificates every day – so keep checking daily, and you might find an offer that suits your needs.

4. Ask your friends.

Your friends can tell you about any discounts they are willing to offer you in return for helping them with some errands or chores around their home etc.

Detail your business:

Prepare your business for the holiday break as if you're closing the doors and not coming back. Take this time to document everything you've done on the account, including all contact information, systems and processes, references, etc. Develop a plan to get your business running in full swing again upon your return. This will relieve stress and keep you focused during the holidays.

Align next year's goals with seasonal messaging

Work from anywhere. At DrDabber, we know that it's important to have face time every once in a while, but most of the time, we do our best work from the comfort of our own homes or personal spaces, like coffee shops or other venues that allow us to be present elsewhere. We trust each other to make good work happen wherever we are, and for whatever reasons, we need to be away from the office. We maintain regular check-ins via Slack and frequent communication via text and email.

Get off distracts

Distractions are the worst when you're trying to disconnect. Turn off notifications on your phone and computer, block access to games and websites, or put them on airplane mode. You might even want to consider taking the batteries out of your devices if you're not willing to completely cut off. Also, no checking email or Facebook!

While many of us live through our cell phones and computers, especially if we're entrepreneurs with running businesses that require our attention 24/7, it's vital to break this habit over the holidays. It's a chance for you to enjoy your time away from work without the nagging feeling that you're missing something. Trust me, it's much easier said than done, but it takes practice, and eventually, it will become second nature!

Prepare for the return .

The day after your holiday is a time to slow down and enjoy the rest. However, it's still important to set up a return date as soon as possible. This will help reduce any holiday stress in the days leading up to it. Make sure you have all of your supplies ready to go, so once you get back, you can hit the ground running.