Believe it or not, taking a day off is a great way to grow your business. When you own a business it can be easy to fall into the trap of working every single day because there is always work to be done.
On top of this, when you run your business from your home, the temptation to work every day can be even greater because your office is right there all the time. It’s easy to think you’ll just check the email, or pull out a file, or work a little bit on that big project.
But all this non-stop work can become a problem over time, one that sneaks up on you unexpectedly. You can start to feel less energized about your business when you never take a break from it.
There is a simple solution, but it is not always easy to implement. The solution is to take a day off. Regularly.
I coach my business clients to take at least one day off each week. It doesn’t have to be the same day every week. If necessary, start with two half days, and then plan ahead for a full day off. Block out the time on your calendar with a label for “Personal” or “Fun and Relaxing” time.
Plan ahead for what you will do with your day off, so that you are not tempted to get pulled back into work tasks. Have coffee or lunch with a friend, take in a play or a movie, go to the farmer’s market, visit a museum, go to a park or to the gym, have a massage or a manicure, take a drive to a nearby town to explore, take a walk or a nap, or read a good (non-business) book.
Coaching Action Tip: Look at your calendar and schedule one day (or two half days) off in the next seven days. Plan at least one thing you will do during your time off and coordinate with the other people who may be involved. Have fun with this and notice how you feel on your day off and how you feel when you return to your work.
I’d love to hear about your experiences with this! Happy day off to you!
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Leslie,
I couldn’t agree more with you on this topic. I used to work 7 days a week, even if it was only for an hour or two on those extra days, and my batteries never had the chance to be recharged.
Now I take off at least one full day each week. The result has been more energy and better ideas on how to build my business.
Connie