As a Content Marketer, your life is hectic.
More and More Work – Never Enough Time to Get It Done
Every day your plate is full with many different things to do. Sadly, there is not enough time to get all of them done. Tomorrow comes and right at the start, your plate is already pretty full with those things you didn’t get to do yesterday.
On paper, your normal work week is 40 hours. However, that is not long enough. You normally spend 50 to 60 hours in the office every week. You also spend additional time working during your commute to and from work and then in your supposed “free” time at night.
Most weekends find you working on one or more projects you didn’t get to during the week. You rarely take all of your vacation time. Can’t afford to. Even when you are on vacation, you find yourself checking your emails, making phone calls and working on projects you need to finish.
This Goes on Day After Day, Month After Month, Year After Year
The stress builds up.
You become anxious and irritable. You take it out on your co-workers and even your spouse and the kids. Many times, you want to throw your hands up and say “Enough, I can’t take it anymore.” However, there are many others who want your job and your boss may replace you, if you did.
When you work extended hours week in and week out and don’t get any breaks, your work suffers. You never get the rest you need. You don’t get as much done. The quality of your work drops. Your creativity all but disappears.
What Do You Do? How Do You Handle This?
Your first step is to commit to taking one day a week off. You are not allowed to do any job-related work at all. That means no phone calls, no checking emails, no working on any projects at all. On this day, allow yourself to get up later than normal. Do something you really enjoy. Spend quality time with your spouse or your family.
The second step is to get away for a weekend once a quarter. Go someplace and really relax. Here again you cannot do any of your regular work. You may be saying you can’t afford to get away for a weekend once a quarter. Then plan a weekend at home where you change your normal routine. Do something different that you normally do every regular weekend.
The last step is take a regular vacation. Dictionary.com defines vacation as
- a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday,
- freedom or release from duty, business, or activity.
Notice it says vacation is a period of suspension of work and freedom from business. Taking your work with you is not an option. That is not a vacation.
On your vacation, turn your cell phone off or, at least, don’t answer any work-related calls. No checking work related emails. Absolutely no office work at all.
Why Do This?
There are several reasons for taking the one day a week off, getting away for a weekend once a quarter and taking that regular vacation.
- First, it gives you the opportunity to start to see everything from the proper perspective. You are in charge of running your life. Don’t let work run it for you.
- Second, you can rejuvenate yourself. Catch up on missed sleep, relax and reduce your stress
- Last, you have the opportunity to restore your creative juices.
Dan Sullivan of Toronto is one of the premier coaches for entrepreneurs today. He started his Strategic Coaching system in the 1980’s. If you’re unfamiliar with Dan, check him out.
Very early in his career, Dan developed a very unique approach to time management for the people he was working with. In his system, they only have 3 types of days . . .
. . . Buffer Days, Focus Days and Free Days.
Dan’s “Free Days” are unique. Here’s how he describes them.
“A Free Day™ is a 24-hour day, from midnight to midnight, during which there are no work-related activities. Rejuvenating Free Days are a necessary precondition for periods of high productivity and creativity.
Rejuvenation generates creativity.
As Vince Lombardi said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” When you’re tired, you stop creating, taking risks, communicating, and delegating. How do you prevent fatigue? Regular Free Days keep you constantly refreshed, creative, and energized. Smart thinkers are well-rested—they have the brain power to think differently and more creatively. Free Days make sure the “best you” shows up every day to do your best work.
Develop the skill of taking regular Free Days.
In the Time System—designed specifically for high-achieving entrepreneurs—Free Days come first. They hold this place of importance because they’re a prerequisite for periods of high achievement. Think of an investment model: You’re investing in your most important asset—you.”
Those Dan has coached over the years have found they have accomplished much more than they thought possible by scheduling Free Days into their schedules.
One Parting Comment
You have heard recreation spoken of many times during your life. Normally most think of it as some physical activity – playing some sport – baseball, tennis, basketball, etc.
Check out what Recreation means.
Dictionary.com defines it as:
refreshment by means of some pastime, agreeable exercise, or the like.
a pastime, diversion, exercise, or other resource affording relaxation and enjoyment.
Take about an hour right now. Plan what day you are going to take off this week. Think about a weekend away during this quarter. Look at when you will take a vacation and where you might go.
Follow through on each of these. Remember – at each of these times, you are not allowed to do any work. Even checking emails is off-limits.
