When you are committed to supporting your company’s success, to having the greatest impact, influence, and profit possible, it is amazingly easy to forget to have a life as well. Your focus and beliefs almost naturally begin to say that every opportunity needs to be followed, every inspiration needs to be developed, and every client request needs to be acknowledged.
Somewhere in there the idea that family, peace, reflection, and play are equally important as your work isn’t readily, or consciously, discarded since you don’t even notice that there is a problem. In your head, it is all being taken care of. The imbalance taking place is never recognized until for whatever reason you take a vacation, you have a significant event take place, or an illness shows up.
Then quickly you realize what it feels like to be away from an obsession; to feel as if you have for the first time in a long time, experienced daylight. That jolt is the reminder that says,” Wow, where have I been?” “How did that happen?” You get that 30,000-foot view of the push mode you have been in, the “temporary” period that somehow became far longer than planned.
It only takes 2 or 3 days away in a completely different environment to remember that there is a whole world out there that you forgot to notice. An evening off can have you only physically elsewhere while your mind and heart are still assessing, planning, and thinking of perceived upcoming business obligations. As a result, for your own protection and health, it really is imperative to have preset routines or stopgaps in place that call you to remember to slow down, look around, and stay present with the self that has so much more richness in your life.
Use the moments, the days, away, to not only be a quick refresher, but to also be that reminder that a routine plan to take breaks, set in your calendar, is a wonderful means of self-care, relationship support, and balance. Ironically, those breaks are also a great aid for your business. A clean, refreshed, perspective allows for greater flow, creativity, freedom, and a clarity that supports efficient and effective productivity.
Balance doesn’t seem like something that needs to be planned. It can even seem like a distraction when in fact it reminds you of a side of yourself that can too readily get forgotten. You need to bring all of you as you enter any aspect of your life. Remembering all those aspects exist is the first step.
As you plan your vacation or time off in the coming summer months, remember the purpose of it all. It is not just to squeeze in family time as required. Those days also serve as reminders of all that you are, reminders to keep you in your life, along with all those who make your life so much more precious. If you need help, reach out and be assured I will start by reminding you, your life is calling…