In celebration of the weekend, I’m going to say something that I probably don’t say enough. Stop working. No, really stop working. You need to relax, take time off, and do something fun that’s unrelated to your business. It’s essential to your success.
As entrepreneurs, we work longer hours, stress more, and regularly push ourselves outside of the comfort zones everyone else is afraid to leave. Running a business is physically taxing and basically akin to mental gymnastics.
We are driven to be better than average, to provide better for our families, and to live up to the high expectations we’ve placed on ourselves. As a result, our quest for success can easily make us forget to take time off to do — brace yourself — nothing.
Here’s why it’s important to take time off…
To Avoid Burnout
I’ve learned that if there isn’t a healthy balance of work and play, you will find yourself unmotivated and burned out. Just like it’s important for you to eat right, exercise, and get adequate sleep so that your physical health is in tact, it’s equally important for you to time off to take care of your mental health.
If you push yourself to the point of burn out, it can be hard to recover. You find yourself unmotivated and unbothered by the fact that you’re unmotivated. Then you get much further behind in pursuing your dreams and running your business than you would have had you just taken some time to decompress and have a little fun.
To Recharge with a Fresh Perspective
As a writer, I’ve learned that the best trick for writer’s block is to stop trying to write. I know that seems counter intuitive, but it really works. Whenever I am having a hard time putting my thoughts into words, or even coming up with thoughts at all, I stop trying to write. I focus on something else, then come back to writing later. It works every single time.
So just like writing, removing yourself from your work oftentimes gives you the ability to return to it with a fresh perspective. Sometimes something you encounter on your break will inspire you. Other times, it really is just a matter of pressing the reset button on your brain, forgetting about what you were working on, and coming back with a fresh mind.
Humans Like to Have Fun
I mean, who doesn’t like to have fun? Even the meanest, most boring stick in the mud likes to stir it up here and there. Don’t forget to have fun. I know that most of us are doing what we think of as fun — working — but get out and spend time with family or friends.
The whole point of you being a purpose driven entrepreneur is to find your happiness, right? That means you need to nurture important relationships so that you’re happy in other aspects of life too. Being happy in your personal life makes you a better entrepreneur, and frankly, there is not success if you alienate yourself from those who love you.
So even if you can’t do it today or tomorrow, be sure to find time to close the laptop, turn off the phones, and focus on laughing, loving and letting your hair down. You absolutely deserve it!