Many people that run their own business find that, because they love their business, they end up spending a lot of time on it.
For those of us who are inspired by our business, this doesn’t seem like ‘work’ but it is still important to make sure that you are also having sufficient down time in order to stay at peak performance.
Whether this is by ensuring regular holidays are scheduled, or making time in the diary for your hobbies, it is important not to let this slip.
Quite a few accountants have a nightmare time in January with the personal tax deadline – indeed I usually work seven days a week in January myself and also have many late nights working. Last week I was seeing a client out in the country at 9pm one night for example.
However because of this, I knew that I could take time off this morning in order to indulge one of my own hobbies which is general aviation.
I normally fly single engined airplanes, however unfortunately these are not allowed over central London, but twin engined planes are and I happen to know someone who has one…
We flew from London Biggin Hill airport, which is a short flight to central London.
It was an ideal day for flying and we flew over many of London’s landmarks.
One of the other pilots on today’s flight shot this video as well:
What do you do to relax, and are you making sure it’s blocked out in your own diary?
Cemanthe says
James, this is a great reminder! When you set up a business of your own, it’s most likely to be in something you love doing… which means that when you’re doing it; it doesn’t feel like work. So, the temptation is to be in the business all the time and forget about the world outside. Social activities with friends become playing ‘status tag’ on Facebook and tweeting at each other over dinner. Everything that works best in life, works best because of balance, in a job it’s easy because you go home at the end of the day, in your business your home is most likely your place of work, so it’s just finding that balance. I love the idea of going out for an afternoon flight! How lucky that you can… maybe I should get a motorbike to do the same 🙂 Great reminder blog post of getting away from it all. Now to implement it as I get ready to prepare slides for a client meeting next week!! LOL
JamesMcBrearty says
Thanks Cemanthe, yes for business owners running their business it doesn’t seem like ‘work’ and it can be hard to identify with those doing a 9 to 5.
It’s important that we do actually make the time to do something else though – your motorbike sounds like a great idea! We both know someone who has one…
Nicky Kriel says
What a great reminder that we all need time out. Thank you, James. Love the pictures.
JamesMcBrearty says
Thanks Nicky
nick tadd says
Corking pics James.
N
JamesMcBrearty says
Thanks Nick, I saw yours from Golfing on the Saturday – it was a great weekend to be out.
Gemma Thompson (@GemLThompson) says
Hi James,
That was just what I needed to see at the end of a busy week (yes I know it’s Monday!) You’ve reminded me to schedule some me time which I will get in the diary NOW!
And the pictures … breathtaking, simply breathtaking!
Keep flying high!
JamesMcBrearty says
Thanks Gemma, yes it’s great to block it out in the diary & then you know it’s fixed.
hHannah says
Hi James,
Wow what a way to spend your morning and so deserved it.
For me, I have one day every other month booked with my Mum. A holiday booked every 9 months and also one day a month I get half a day on me 🙂 got to look after ourselves otherwise it would felt like a job and not our own business
Great blog James 🙂
JamesMcBrearty says
Thanks Hannah
Yes, it’s so important for those of us working for ourselves to block time out in the diary for ourselves.
Enjoy Barbados 🙂
Hannah says
Wow James, that’s a way to spend your morning! You so deserve that time doing what you love, after all, that’s why we start our own business – to do what we love.
I get me time once every other month with my Mum, pampering, lunch or just spending the afternoon together. I also have the privilege of being able to have a holiday every 9-10 month’s with my boyfriend, this year it’s Barbados 🙂
We should all have time to do what we love and ar passionate about
Helen Stothard says
I couldn’t agree more James, I had a bit of a wake up moment this week when I took a day off to go on a school trip with my daughter. We’d been talking about it and my sister in law reminded me that was one of the reasons I set up in business, so that I would have that flexibility, and yet as the business has grown, and I have become increasingly more involved in it, I have lost a lot of that flexibility.
It’s important that we do take time out to look after ourselves, but also important to remember why we started out in business in the first place and not lose sight of that vision.
I am fortunate that I love what I do so often it doesn’t feel like work, but that’s no excuse for not spending that precious time with my daughter while she’s still young enough to appreciate it.
Stephen Bray says
Hi James,
Good points . . . and a lovely way to spend a morning.
Although I live on a beach, and lead a pretty laid back
life a while back Mrs. Bray and I had to remember to
make it a rule not to work at weekends. We’ve extended
this to Thursdays too, although we cheat and do some
shopping chores that day.
It’s easy when you’re self-employed, or even employed
by tyrannical organizations to forget about down-time, (no
pun intended).
This week we’ve gone back to the drawing board and
started fine tuning our lifestyle prior to some business
expansion, which we don’t want to get too much in the
way of relaxation. This has included deciding the experiences
we want to share at weekends, as well as during the week.
Good post. Thanks,
Stephen
JamesMcBrearty says
Thanks Stephen