It’s Sunday evening and I’ve had 24 hours away from the computer, office and recording studio. Sunday was spent in the picturesque village of Kakopetria with my daughter, where we enjoyed a leisurely lunch (edible as I hadn’t cooked it) with time to talk, followed by a brisk walk along the banks of the meandering stream surrounded by beautiful scenery.
It’s had a multi-dimensional effect in that we had precious mother-daughter time, I was away from the glare of the computer screen and in fact, because relaxed, had some pretty good creative ideas for some other current projects.
Days like this didn’t just happen though. As with most things, there was a turning point, but once my decision was made to enforce certain rules to balance work and home life, that was it. It’s not only the culture of work which is important but also the culture of leisure and relaxation.
As we are constantly ‘connected’ through our telephones and devices, taking a break now has to become a conscious action. When you have your own office, you are in a catch-22 situation. You can stop when you want, but most entrepreneurs always push themselves to get just that extra bit done. While they are celebrated for wearing multiple hats and logging numerous hours, working without a break can actually jeopardise business and health. Those coffee and lunch-breaks, however short, are vital.
I’ve learned to switch the office phone off by 3pm and rarely schedule any afternoon or evening meetings. That allows me time to prepare my schedule for the next day, do mother duties, and keep updated with local and international news as well as latest trends.
Although it might seem strange, I found that productivity and performance actually begins with free time which in turn is the fuel for the energy, creativity and focus which leads to success.
Do you feel you have burnout? Unable to switch off? Taking work from the office home? I’m interested to hear from you…
