Most of us who are self-employed have a hard time defining when it's time to work and
when it's time to have a life. Especially those of us who work from home, telecommute or otherwise have an office in their house.This also goes for commissioned sales people and employees who don't have a traditional 9 to 5 job. The structure that's present for 'real jobs' is missing from our lives, so it's easy to blur the lines between working too much and not working enough.
I don't know about you, but I often find myself working straight through the day, eating lunch at the computer, checking and returning emails late at night and the like. Some weeks, I don't take a day off, or even part of one.
On the one hand, I get lots done. On the other I sometimes find myself exhausted and grumpy, without much passion left for the work I love. I'm writing this article as much for me as I am for you. Take a BREAK!
I know that the quality of my work and my ability to plow through the piles of "to do's" diminishes when I skip time for myself. I need to take a day off every week and take a few breaks during my workday. I suspect you do too.
At one point in a previous career I went 5 years without taking a real vacation. What I mean by 'real' is actually leaving town, getting away from the temptation to work.
My coach at the time insisted the best thing for me was to get away. "But I have TOO MUCH TO DO" I cried in protest!
She was right. I was wrong.
Here are 5 Reasons to take a break or go on vacation.
You'll Stay Healthier - Too much work results in too much stress. Too much stress results in too much cortisol. Cortisol is a naturally occurring hormone in the body, but high prolonged levels can cause loss of ability to reason, higher blood pressure, blood sugar imbalance and the dreaded mid-section bulge (pot belly!). There are about half a dozen other health issues related to too much cortisol, but suffice to say, too much is bad.
Your body will Thank You - If you spend a lot of time at the computer, on your feet or on the telephone you may be inadvertently developing patterns of poor posture, neck ailments, carpal tunnel syndrome and other ergonomic nightmares. Several breaks during the day can call attention to your bad habits and allow you to make adjustments that relive your physical stress.
You'll be more fun to be around - Ever notice people starting to avoid you when you work too much? It might be that you missed a shower, but more likely you're just surly. Working hard and being productive are great, but all work and no play make Steve a dull boy.
You need a Attitude Adjustment - Your Brain absolutely needs rest and breaks from concentrating for long periods of time. I don't know the medical reason, but my version is that 'gunk' builds up in there blocking your ability to reason and process information. Stepping away from your desk for a few minutes is like a mental cleanse, clearing out that nasty gunk buildup.
You'll have more energy - It's a fact that people who take short breaks at work and regular vacations from work are more vital and energetic. You are a walking electro-chemical power plant and you need certain kinds of fuel to operate properly. Food, sleep and some good old R & R are those fuels. Besides, just think how much more you get done right before you go on vacation!
Here are 5 Ways to Take a Break
Stretch - Every couple of hours get up off your hiney and stretch your legs, arms, fingers and what ever else is feeling cramped or sore. Give yourself a neck rub and get the blood flowing through your shoulders.
Take a Walk - Especially right after lunch when all your blood is rushing to your stomach to suck up the nutrients from that slice you had. On second thought, skip the Pizza altogether. Once around the block after your Turkey on Whole Wheat, hold the Mayo!
Meditate - Just 5 minutes of closed eyes, connecting with your Higher Power or visualizing yourself on a beach in Maui can be as effective as an hour break. (Just as long as you don't fall asleep.)
Eat a Snack - I'm not talking Snicker's Bar here. More like a Balance Bar. Choose a food with some protein, complex carbs and 'good' fat. This will help keep your blood sugar level and supply nutrition to both your body and your brain.
Leave Town - As my buddy Guido used to say, "Steve, time to get out of Dodge!". That was my call for a weekend away in Sonora. A couple of days out of town with friends or alone will do wonders for you.
I'm not giving you permission to goof off and neglect your business, but sometimes the best remedy for fatigue and stress is to get away from it for a while. Focus and productivity are what I'm all about, but often the best approach is a balanced one. Reminds me of that old saying, "Here today, gone to Maui."
© 2007 Steve O'Sullivan
Business Productivity Coach, Speaker and Expert Author Steve O'Sullivan is the publisher of 'The LifeLine' bi-weekly small biz improvement ezine. If you're ready to make a serious impact on your business, make more money, and get more done in less time, get your FR*EE productivity tips and tools now at http://www.sosimpact.com/
1 comment:
Excellent post.
One thing I have noticed about certain sites is that, even though they have tons of content, the site looks great and the headlines are eye catching is that the material is simply filler. It’s downright unreadable. You can forget it 6 seconds after you read it. Not the case with your post though, really enjoyed it reading it and it held my attention all the way through!
productivity.
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