It is no secret that creative entrepreneurs work super hard. And it is no secret that business owners need time off. But how often do we actually take it?
And I don’t mean a Sunday afternoon that you step away from your email inbox.
I mean, leaving town, staying offline, walking away from projects and clients. I mean REALLY taking time off.
I know what it’s like to love the business that you created. I know what it’s like to work long hours and still be excited about what you are doing. I know what it’s like to have more ideas than you know what to do with.
And I also know what burnout feels like.
I know what it feels like to wake up and not be in love with that thing you used to be in love with.
Luckily, and with lots of hard work, I have been able to move past that feeling. I have overcome deep burnout and risen on the other side. It is a hard process but along the way I learned how important it is to take real time away.
If you are a creative entrepreneur, it is so important for you to first acknowledge that business owners need time off. Real. Time. Off.
Second, you need to plan for taking the time off. And my friend, I am going to tell you something shocking… I think it needs to be at least a full week. Not a long weekend. Not 6 days. At LEAST 7. Ideally, even longer.
When you go on vacation, the first couple days are used to unwind and settle in. You know, there is jetlag, unpacking, learning where stuff in town is, and maybe a local grocery run. You don’t truly settle into vacay mode for the first couple days.
And then you need to allow yourself to reallllyyyyyy settle in. Get used to doing nothing. Get used to a different rythym than home. Get used to sleeping in and staying up late. Get used to drinking more and eating more and being lazier than normal.
That is where your soul will begin to recover from overwork and burnout.
After spending two weeks in Colorado, I can tell you that if you are able to take two weeks (or more) that your soul will thank you.
Let me pause here and tell you the honest truth: I had every intention of working while we were in Colorado.
Before I left, I had a travel to-do list written out. It wasn’t anything heavy lifting but there were several projects on that list that I had been putting off and in my mind, the slow pace of Colorado would be a great time to knock those projects out.
And then we got to Colorado. And settle into the slow pace. And I listened to my gut.
This is where I am different than many other entrepreneurs… I have been around this block before and I know when to listen to my gut. Especially when it comes to burnout and stress.
I knew I needed to listen to my gut and just be. No projects. No tackling a list. No pressure. Just enjoying time off with my family in beautiful Colorado.
So, if this is is speaking to you. If you are reading this and thinking that you may need to do the same thing, let me give you permission. Take the time off.
Your business can wait. It will survive. The to-do list will be there when you get back. Just take the time off. Get the rest you need. Walk away for a bit.
And trust me, you will come back so refreshed and inspired. And your soul will be recharged.
And if you want to take things a step farther, you can grab my new business sustainability freebie below. Drop your details below and I will send you a guide to teach you 10 things you need to make sure your business is setup for long term success and sustainability.
