When Productivity Slows, Take a Mini-Vacation

The past month or so (my first running my business full time) I have worked harder and longer than at any point in my life. When my friend asked me to visit him in Boston this past weekend, my first instinct was to say no - after all, I have work to do! After thinking about it for a few days, I figured that I needed the break from work so I went up for the weekend.

Well, it turns out that going was the best decision that I could have made. I had been working with such an intensity that I was beginning to lose touch with reality. I was at the point where the first thing I thought about each morning was work and the last thing I thought about at night was work, along with pretty much every moment in between. One night a few weeks ago, I even dreamed about work.

I'm sure that this isn't uncommon for entrepreneurs, it's just that this has been my first prolonged exposure to being an "obsessive workaholic". The thing is, I LOVE it...I love the work that I am doing so it doesn't feel like I'm burning myself out, it just feels like I am doing something I enjoy all day long.

However, too much of ANYTHING isn't good for you. Today, my first full day back after the break, has been AWESOME. I have been 100% more productive than I was towards the end of last week. I feel as fresh as I did on my first full time day.

From now on I will be planning a few small things each week to get my mind completely away from the business. And anytime I'm forced to neglect those things for business for a short time, I'll make sure that I have a mini-vacation planned at the end to recharge my batteries.

Just another one of those things I'm learning about working for myself...