When was the last time that you really took a vacation, meaning no responding to work-related emails, stopping by the office, or jumping on a quick conference call? If you’re like most business owners, you probably can’t even remember the last time you were completely inaccessible during a vacation.

Now that our world has become so intertwined with social media, this is just one more communication channel that constantly ties you back to the office. If you’re making vacation plans this summer, you may be wondering if stepping away from social media for a week is even a possibility. The answer is yes, you absolutely can do this, and I’m going to tell you how.

Carefully evaluate your social media content calendar.
How frequently do you currently post on social media? Ideally, you have a content calendar in place that helps to hold you accountable to a regular social media posting schedule. Take a look back at this content calendar and take note of the days and times of day that you have historically shared content. Your audience appreciates routine, so finding a way to keep your postings on schedule is ideal.

Tools such as Post Planner for Facebook and Buffer for Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn can allow you to schedule posts in advance and make it appear that you are in the office even while on vacation. You need to be careful when using these resources, however, because you won’t be able to respond immediately to comments, and it’s possible that the social media post that you created in advance may not even be relevant anymore once it’s posted.

Let your audience know you are taking a brief vacation.
If you are a little nervous about using scheduling tools, simply tell your audience that you are taking a brief break from social media while on vacation. Trust me, they will understand! They, too, take breaks. In fact, 32 percent of Facebook users do not log in daily, and 64 percent of Twitter users are inactive each month. I promise your followers on social media will be waiting for you when you return from vacation a week later.

Get an employee or agency to handle your social media in the event of an emergency.
Considering some of the embarrassing social media blunders that brands have made over the years, you will only want to give an employee or agency that you really trust the credentials to your various social media accounts. Even though your brand will be taking a social media hiatus while you are on vacation, it’s a good idea to have an employee monitor your social media accounts while you are away in case an issue comes up that needs to be addressed immediately.

Avoid temptation by temporarily blocking your social media accounts.
Delete the social media apps off of your phone to make it more of a pain to try to access these channels while you are out of town. If you want to go one step further, take advantage of an app like Self Control that allows you to block websites like Facebook and Twitter for a set period of time. Therefore, even if you are tempted to visit these websites from your phone, you won’t be able to log in!

Taking a vacation from social media can prevent burn out and can actually help to make your posts better received by your followers once you return. After all, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Give it a try, let us know what you think!