We contractors take too few vacations, and when we take them, they’re often too short and too stress inducing. We put in 15-hour days the week before leaving, desperately trying to get ready. And on our first morning back at work, there’s a pile of messages obscuring not only the desk but the chair as well. Who needs it? Planning Ahead To prepare for a longer, more relaxing vacation, you need to have a shortrange, a mid-range, and a long-range plan. I’ll take them in that order. Short range. First, make minimal appointments for the week preceding your vacation. Book no meetings with prospective clients, or with current clients whose jobs have not started yet. You can hold regular