How well do you know your limits with work, i.e. the workload and pressure you can handle before you reach breaking point? More importantly, do you heed the signs before you have a breakdown?
Over the years as a business owner and productivity coach, I have learned a few things about my #limitations, including my absolute need for work-life balance or more specifically, “work-health balance”. Allowing stress and pressure to build without regularly cooling it down, is as dangerous as an untended kitchen pressure cooker: eventually the lid blows off and everything spills all over the place. Not pretty. And then the cleanup (aka recovery) takes extra-long.
Knowing your limits and the physical and emotional signs of impending work overload is important. When my focus and productivity have started slowing down, I know it’s urgent time for a few days off work. Here is what I deem important for regaining focus, productivity and keeping a healthy balance:
1. Take Time Off Work Regularly. Small-business owners and solopreneurs need more days off, and more regularly. Typically, we work alone or may have a small team of one or two subcontractors for a few very specific task areas. But we wear many – nay, all – hats in our business, including those that aren’t our specialty or favourite thing to do, i.e. the opposite of what your ‘superpower’ is.
👉 TIP: Schedule regular days off. I apply the “5 days off every quarter” recommendation I have seen from several sources, in addition to whichever 7-14 days I take for a bigger summer break and Christmas/New Year break. Just as with any battery, if you let it drain to zero it takes a lot longer to recharge fully.
2. Combat Decision-Making Fatigue. Every now and then, I feel temporarily overwhelmed by all the things I have to decide on alone every day. Sure, I can and do run some ideas by business friends or a coach but sometimes all the business decisions, finances, or dealing with the also emotionally fraught decisions with aging and ailing family members, or beloved pets, and worrying about children can be too much!!
👉 TIP: Share the load. If you have a spouse or partner, talk things through with them. If you don’t, then ask a close friend about one particular thing you need input and a second view on or discuss your business challenge with a trusted business friend. Most people like to help – you need only ask! If asking somebody else isn’t an option, then it can help to write everything down and review calmly which decision/s need to be given first priority, then second. Whichever decisions can wait a little should not be worried about until you have handled the top priorities. Take one thing at a time.
3. Switch Off. To recalibrate and regain energy, as well as renewing enthusiasm for your work or business, make sure you truly switch off on your weekends and other planned days off. Clients will typically understand this better than you fear! In fact, they might be a little bit jealous of you setting boundaries and putting your foot down. And when you return after an office and brain-break, you will feel far more productive and creative again – for your own benefit and that of your clients.
👉 TIP: Do something, anything that is NOT related to your business or work and is fun, relaxing or invigorating. Give your brain something else, or nothing to think about. It can be whatever brings you joy and relaxation: getting outdoors for a walk, bike ride, or gardening, socialising with friends that you always have a good time with, seeing a movie, or curling up somewhere comfortable to read a book or take an afternoon nap.
I used the recent Easter weekend to bookend it with an extra day off on either side for a very much-needed five-day break. My next one is already scheduled for 2-3 months from now! Don’t wait too long for YOUR next break - schedule it in your calendar now!