Friday Afternoon - Taking Time for Yourself Is Important

This site is all about sharing experiences, advice, and business savvy ideas. That's pretty broad, and I like it that way. When you're a manager or business-owner, rarely is it possible to classify or compartmentalize all the facets of life. So why do it here? So many moments, thoughts, topics tend to blend, when you're of the mindset of growth - be it personally or professionally - so, bear with us, while we stay ever-so-focused on staying on-topic, all the while, allowing our minds to open and follow the natural path our thoughts take us.

To my post of today - taking time. Sounds simple, right? Book time off, relax. This is not often how it works. I know personally, I'm an adventurer - give me a week and I'll tick a city off my travel list, or maybe a couple. Give me a day, however, and I'm out of my element. I'm talking, a day to myself, without plans, without reservations, without a visit with the parents or a friend. And don't think you'll ever see me without my iPhone in-palm - unplugging from work and life is just hard! "Whoa is me" right? Well, I think I suffer from the same thing many young entrepreneurs do - the inability to relax. The mind is always on - reviewing the day ahead; reflecting on the days behind us; where should I book that next girls' dinner? I wonder if that client got my email? What's on-schedule for next week and how will I get it all done? Did I take anything out to make for dinner tonight? I mean come on, it never ends! And that's why we're always tired. That's why we feel stretched a little thin. No down-time. There's a beauty to the level we can be connected nowadays - always available, instant answers, no waiting. But what's it actually doing to us? It's not good! I'm not quoting stats or medical journals here, I'm just talking obvious stuff. Inability to focus, inability to sleep, constant preoccupation. There's got to be a break. That "Off Button" to shut off the mind and live in the moment, just taking in the "now" and nothing else - it must be clicked

I finished up work early today - I had booked myself off all afternoon for a visit from my out-of-town dad, but happens we had to reschedule. I thought about going from my morning client appointment to my office to sneak in a few hours on some files that are piling up. But guess what, I said "Screw it!", threw caution to the wind, and here I am on a gorgeous day in June, all by myself, having a creative moment and writing in the peace and quiet. My only task is to intermittently throw the ball to the dog, and make sure I don't get too much sun. Blissful!

It's so hard to take these moments, because for some of us, it feels like time wasted, however this is not the case. We all need downtime - our minds need it, our souls need it, and let's be honest, a little "recharge time" never hurt anybody. We all have to give this a go - take some time - maybe a few hours, maybe a day or two - and just STOP, and BREATHE.

So here it goes....