Acheiving Work Life Balance
When I first started my business 5 years ago, I was always surprised to hear myself say “not at all, I’m a workaholic” when asked if I found it distracting to work at home. I always considered myself to be very lucky and grateful that I could stay focused and motivated even though, cooking, TV and laundry were there to tempt me. And I guess that’s what allowed me to build a successful business. By “not being distracted” and thus remaining focused, I managed to work hard, do lots of business development, networked and gained a good number of clients.
This year has been fantastic so far, but I’m finding myself in a conumdrum; I’m friggin exhausted! I’ve been working so hard, I’ve forgotten to take the time to cook, watch TV and do the laundry… Ok, watching TV is not that big of a deal, considering the rubbish that’s on, but on average, I’m working between 55 to 70 hours a week and I’m burning out.
I’ve read many blog posts that offer advice to small businesses and freelancers and found advice on staying motivated, and how to organize your time, but I’m not sure I found the answer on how to avoid burnout. I have a good idea of what I have to do, but just don’t know how.
However these past few weeks have been very interesting and I think that I may have found part of the solution. I’m currently in Ottawa for a few days at my parents on “holiday”. The problem with this type of holiday is that, it isn’t really a holiday. I’m still checking email three of four times a day and worrying about on-going projects. I simply can’t switch off.
Last week, over the Victoria day long weekend I took an extended long weekend and went on a kayaking trip in the Broken Group Islands. Just a few kilometres from Port Alberni, on Vancouver Island, the Broken Group Islands consists of 100 islands and islets and rocky outcrops. Fully organized by a friend, this trip came fully prepared with food and Cara and Ray, the most competent and delightful people, who were our guides and cooks for our trip. All I had to do for this trip was show up with my personal items. More importantly, we were away from technology! No cell phone, no Internet, no blackberry. The 5 days were complete solitude and silence. We were also water logged for a full two days, but never mind that. I came back from this trip relaxed and rested.
With increasing technology creeping into our normal life, I am convinced that we need to get away once in a while and just stop thinking about work. I came back from my 5 day absence and work was still there and the Internet hadn’t imploded during my absence. If you’re struggling with burnout and fatigue, I would highly recommend shutting off everything for a few days. It is scarry at first, but you’ll see life won’t stop without you and you’ll feel great afterwards.
After working in high tech PR just as the boom was peaking, I noticed after a couple of years that I hadn’t gone for longer than 24 hours without email/internet access for something like two years, so I started doing precisely what you’ve just done – structuring vacations that meant I not only couldn’t ‘check in’ but wouldn’t even want to. There’s something truly lovely up getting up at sunrise and going to bed at sunset (in the summer anyway). And if other people don’t think your vacation is exciting – well – it’s not their vacation, is it? A woman I know from Toronto told me once that every year she went to Cuba for a week to a place that had individual cabanas and hammocks. She’d take seven books and read one a day. Sounded like heaven to me.
A cabana in Cuba does sound like heaven.
I’m thinking that I might be ready to push it a bit further and thinking of booking myself in an Ashram where silence is required for a week. I think that would be the ultimate. All alone with my thoughts…. Not sure if I’ll come back more relaxed or insane!
Its very important to get away from it all from time to time but it also important to try to find a way to have little oases every day.
Taking time away from it all regularly is one of the key to better work/life balance. Here are some other key elements that have worked wonders for Margarita and I.
1. Know what your NON-NEGOTIABLES are and learn to SAY NO.
2. Make sure that you have a daily “winning routine”…learn what makes you sharp and keeps you sharp and again…lean to SAY NO.
3. Create and implement seasonal rules…for example, we are starting a “NO EMAIL AFTER 4PM” for the summer. It really has us pack up early to go and enjoy the outdoors, go walk the dog, do things that inspires and that are non work related.
I am 100 times more cre8ive and effective since I’ve started to “unplug” daily and booking myself regular vacations away from it all. Try it and see for yourself. It is truly the key to success…while enjoying the journey.
Isabelle
Thanks for the comments Isabelle and Mhairi. I agree with you 100%. I no longer do emails on the weekend. I used to think that I was catching up, but I found that just checking my email and reading one or two that weren’t pleasant just ruined my weekend.
I keep reading all over the web about people having trouble saying no. I think that there is a need for some sort of help/training/course on how to achieve this….