Take A break? Just How Easy Is It When You're Self Employed?
Saturday, January 8, 2011 at 2:16PM Before the Christmas period began most of my clients seemed keen for me to take a proper break. Leave the laptop alone, turn the Blackberry off and have a few days away. 'Sleep in!' they said (although not all at once, as that would just be weird!).
Now if you're self employed, like me you'll understand that, while a well deserved break from all work related activities is necessary (and apparently helps maintain sanity? Who knew?!) it's also one of the hardest things one can do. No work, no money. No money, no rent (or more to the point no food!). So it's back to striking a balance between work time and playtime but moreover, making sure that work time is productive and play time really is a proper break (I find surrounding oneself with quality playmates makes leaving the laptop untouched much easier!)
I have to admit that I've been lucky enough to have one of the best Christmasses that I've had in years. I laughed so much with my family that my stomach ached for days and there were times when I was laughing so hard that I could no longer breathe (and when was the last time you did that?!). Forgetting work was easy for those precious few days but, despite deciding that now was the time to have a quality break, it wasn't long before the need to be online and back in the land of social media living made me restless and unable to relax.
But upon reflecting (something that I really do far too much) I'm not sure this need to be back working after such a short spell away from everything is necessarily a bad thing. I'm self employed after all. It's all down to me whether new clients can find me as well as me checking in with my existing client base to see how everyone's doing and whether they need a treatment. And, perhaps more to the point, I ENJOY my job. Social networking is great fun as well as great business and I always love catching up with clients and hearing all their news.
So perhaps there's been a shift in perspective when it comes to self employment. Surely successful entrepeneurs don't view 'work' in quite the same way. They simply love what they do which, in itself brings a motivation to get up in the morning and invest their time in themselves which, in turn brings about business success making the need ease of taking a break from it all increasingly hard each year.
This way of thinking certainly makes me feel a lot better when I realise I've only taken about forty-five days 'holiday' in about four years! However, a new year's resolution has been to make more time for me...as much as I pride myself for being a workaholic (I don't recommend being self employed unless you are one!) I also think there is a real danger of 'burn out' if I continue to justify not taking time off.
So, in order to be the best I can be may 2011 be a year of business prosperity and fantastic playtime!
Reader Comments (2)
I agree...well sort of.
Let me explain..I love being self-employed too, love my work and the lifestyle it gives me.
Like you Steph, I love the process of making new client relationships and then keeping in touch with them to see how they are doing...I love it and I am genuinely interested in my clients health needs.
BUT now here's where I don't quite agree...the workaholic part. I am not a workaholic...I love what I do but I do realise the importance of relaxation and stress-relief for me too!
Even though I don't feel stressed I am aware that I need to keep that way so that I can successfully de-stress my clients.
Which is why I cant wait for my upcoming massage with you - YAY!!!
BUT now here's where I don't quite agree...the workaholic part. I am not a workaholic...I love what I do but I do realise the importance of relaxation and stress-relief for me too!-Louis Vuitton Trunks & Bags swiss watches