Work-Life Balance
I’m not really sure if using the words building a business and work life balance are legally allowed to be used in the same sentence to be honest, in a way it almost makes me chuckle, particularly in light of my insatiable passion for working like a mad woman day in day out.
The thing is though I was reading an email from Bob Procter today and had a bit of a light bulb moment.
I am not sure that there was a specific quote that prompted this realization, but the jyst of the blurb was that sometimes the harder you strive, the ‘behinder’ you get! (‘scuse the grammar!) 
Although I will be the first one to tell you that in order to build a business you have to go hell for leather and bust your buns to get the wheels turning. Nothing will happen without focus and consistent massive action.
With that said, you do have to make sure that while building your business and working your fingers to the bone that you remember to be kind to yourself and try pay attention to your work life balance every once in a while.
A few months ago… in mid January to be specific, I had way too many irons in the fire.
On top of the entire hullabaloo, I lost my precious friend Dan the Man, and was also trying to spread myself thin in order to help out a little, while preparing for his celebration of life.
I had committed to the Prove It Challenge so my blogging had kicked it up a notch and my posting frequency had increased by at least 200%, plus I was trying to spend quality time with my children and work with my partners, focus on follow up … all at the same time.
I was feeling like I was simply spinning my wheels with overwhelm.
Thankfully I realized that I needed to slow down to go faster and wrote a post about bowing out for a few days.
The same thing is true for building a business and striving to reach goals. Although I’ll be the first one to admit (as I’ve already said), you have to remember to take time out every once in a while; even if it’s only for an afternoon or two.
It’s very important to think about “why” you are working so hard in the first place. Likely some of your reasons are around time freedom and spending it with family and doing more of the things you enjoy.
This must not be overlooked in the striving process, because if things get a little too heavy or feel to be going the other way, it can either tempt you to throw in the towel completely or do nothing well.
Doing nothing well is not going to produce the best results and will not benefit your business or serve any good purpose.
Sometimes taking a nice walk, going out for a bite to eat with friends or just simply having a bubble bath or watching a movie can work wonders to re fuel your fire.
Something else I have taken advantage of every once in a while is getting a nice early night in bed. My grandma always said that every hour of sleep you get before midnight has twice the value of the hours after the witching hour. I am sure there is a lot of truth to this.
The result is that you awaken with an alert and fresh mind and everything seems a little easier somehow, not to mention the fact that challenges seem easier to conquer.
When you overwork, it’s too easy to get your knickers in a twist (a well used family term).
Taking a bit of time out will help you work with an open mind and stop attracting what feels to be nothing more than challenges and overwhelm.
This is not a post to get you off the hook but merely a reminder that work will wait for you whether you like it or not and it’s OK to step back to catch your breath occasionally!
Taking a little break and maintaining at least a little taste of work life balance while building your business will likely do you the world of good and you’ll catch up faster than if you kept fighting the uphill battle.
Just my words of wisdom!!
What do you do to maintain work life balance while building your business & working towards your goals? Please leave comments and suggestions below..maybe we’ll all learn a thing or two!
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Love it Jayne! You were spreading yourself way to thin and I’m glad you stepped back so that you could eventually step forward. We need to remember that we are a priority and need to make time for ourselves. I don’t get women who say then don’t have time for themselves…time isn’t gonna jump out and say “here I am”. You gotta make it happen, period! What’s the worst that could happen? You’d enjoy yourself
Golda
Golda
Golda Smith recently posted..Embrace The Rainbow for Network Marketing Success- Personality Types
Hey Golda, lovely seeing you. Yes sometimes we have to take a step back and take a breather. I have tried to make a bit better effort lately to chill a bit, or go out with my BFF for a meal at least once per month. It is good for the soul isn’t it?
Thanks for stopping by.
Jayne
Hey Jayne,
Absolutely love your use of the word ‘behinder’. Creativity in language can often get the message across better than correct grammar!
I’m fully with you on this whole post in fact. I’ve been in a similar position recently. Until my brief sojourn for a meditation retreat, I’d become so caught up in ‘going hammer and tongs’ at my business that I was losing my connection with my reasons for doing it in the first place.
I’m a great believer in taking consistent, massive action in your business to build it effectively, but I’m also a great believer in going straight to your ‘why’. I’m in the industry partly because I want to have free time to spend with my family, so it makes sense that I spend time with them right now, rather than put it off until my business reaches a certain level! Losing touch with them and the value of the quality time we spend together doesn’t help the business one bit.
Although I’m spending less time on my business than I way two months ago, I’m getting at least as much accomplished, and enjoying the process more.
Thanks for sharing and all the best,
Jym
Jym recently posted..How to Use Attraction Marketing in Your Business part 1 – Mindset and Belief Shifts
Hi Jym, you know I have thought about you (in envy) this last month and admired the way you took the time out to go on your retreat.
I think you have it in perspective. The thing is, life is pretty short and if we are not taking the time to spend the time with our priorities, then it makes no sense to continue in a frenzy does it.
It is funny how, when we decide to take time out, we are twice as productive when we return. Hmmmm bizarre how that happens.
Lovely to see you. Thanks for taking time out to see me.
Jayne