This quote has always resonated with me, though I’ve not always been one to follow it. We’ve entered our second quarter and now, more than just rest and relaxation is needed to maintain our physical and mental well-being.
The past few years have been.. different. We’ve pivoted, and pivoted and pivoted. We’ve had to rewrite our ways of living, of connecting, of working from home and virtual meetings and workspaces, everything has changed.
I was conversing with a group of professionals regarding this strange, post-covid world: they are feeling so, so tired, and still have not slowed down.
The Myth of the “Always On” Culture
What are you doing it all for? When will enough be enough? We have all been pushed to the brink of our capacity and capability and are still being pushed for more. It is a common misconception that working all the time is necessary to succeed in real estate. The fact is that if we don’t choose a day to rest, our body will choose it for us.
The negative effects of overworking include burnout, decreased creativity, and diminished mental health. How do we slow down when it feels like the world doesn’t, when we’re being asked for more and more, when there is always something else to do. How do we prioritize productive rest?
The Hidden Benefits of Rest
Whenever I’m pushing myself too hard, and the inevitable happens: burnout or sickness, and I am forced to take a day or few days to recover, I find a huge increase in productivity and creativity once I return. Even forced periods of relaxation reward me with fresh perspectives and renewed energy, so why not schedule these breaks before the body schedules them for us, and enjoy the benefits, on our own schedule?
Studies have shown that by utilizing enough rest we can enjoy enhanced cognitive function, increased energy levels, better decision making, productivity, efficiency, and creativity, stress reduction, and even better physical and mental health.
How to Incorporate Rest into your Workday
I then spoke with a fellow business owner: they were having issues at home finding the space to turn away from work. How relatable is that? We’ve all had this at one time or another: so how can we switch gears into rest and recovery mode when there’s always so much to do? Remember, rest can be just as productive as work, and rest will make your working time more productive. Again and again, I’ve been told we have the power to control our time, to define our schedule as well as how others treat us.
Ideas to Control Your Time
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- Communicate expectations and boundaries. For example, I clearly and explicitly set this boundary with my clients “I don’t work Sundays, this is family time for me”. My clients have (almost) always respected this and, unless there’s an important offer to write, I can fully dedicate this time for my family.
- Time block your personal time. Schedule rest, relaxation and self-care into your calendar. Create an appointment with yourself! You can protect this time by time blocking these important appointments with yourself.
- Protect yourself from distraction. Put your phone away, pause your notifications or put it on do not disturb mode. You can even put your phone on airplane mode, and there are many tools that you can use so that you can focus (the Boomerang app, for example, will pause your emails).
As we continue down the road of entrepreneurship, this long and lonely road, know that our successes can be railroaded if we neglect ourselves. We won’t make the finish line if we neglect to take good care of this vehicle that propels us towards our goals. The purpose of business is to fund the perfect life. How long are you going to wait to live the life you deserve?
Until next time…
Live your Purposeful Life
Andre Chin
