I have been on a rampage about making sacrifices, taking action, and getting success lately. I thought I would change it up a little and talk about how you reward yourself. I know how hard I work to achieve my success, but I also reward myself when I can. Do you?
I mean take real time off, leave behind everything, including Twitter and Facebook. I did that this week, and took 3 days off (IN A ROW!) with no internet, no emails, and no phone calls. I am planning to do the same this coming week. Why? Because I need it. I have been working my tail off to get my last 2 eBooks out, I have several other new projects I am working on, and I have been putting in 100+ hour weeks. It gives me time to relax.
I don’t take the time very often, but when I do, I try to enjoy it. I plan on doing some reading (yes, REAL books) this week during my “break”. I have a copy of Blogging to the 3rd Power by Nicholas Cardot to read, as well as I just received a copy of Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuck (won that one in a contest over on David Risley’s site) that I plan on reading.
I don’t want to confuse you here, because it will take hard work and dedication to become successful, but at the same time it is really easy to get burned out!
What do you do to reward yourself? Do you sometimes feel like you can’t take a break or your income will suffer? How do you overcome that feeling?
Also, I am changing my schedule for the Livestream Show, which has been on Saturday Nights at 8pm EST. I would like your input on changing it to a weekday, are you available for days, evenings, what days?
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The simple way to overcome the feeling that you can't get away without losing out on your income is this – look at how much you NEED to make, work your butt of the week before, and then you're done. All it takes is making income BEFORE, making what you NEED, and you'll be set. Right?
Great topic Keith because this is something we all face at some point in time. Sometimes I feel like if I take a break, I'm being lazy and I won't reach my goals as fast but the simple thing is and what's actually the truth, is that the most successful people in the world, know how to relax and “reboot” so to speak.
They also are some of the most productive as well. It sounds counter-intuitive but if you learn how to take breaks and relax from time to time, the more productive you will be, that is if you stick to your plan. What I do is get away from everything like you talked about. It's good to let the mind refresh and get away from all the tech that's so ingrained in our daily lives.
Definitely a great topic. Especially with your book and the post over at Daily Blog Tips talking about just how many hours people put into their online businesses/blogs per week. I think many people feel they need to put in those 100+ hour weeks EVERY week simply to offset the luxury of working from home.
No matter what business you're in, it's important to have incentives beyond the simple paycheck. Time off, rewards…actually enjoying the fruits of your labor are necessary. That way you're energized enough to consistently do your BEST work. I posted recently about rewarding yourself also, but from a different angle (using it as a goal reinforcer).
Hope the book launch is going well!
To reward myself, I buy something I really like or have a great dinner. I also enjoy the more simple ways to relax such as watching a science fiction film while drinking beer.
A very good topic and I absolutely agree with you, Jillian and Mike. Without time to relax and “re-charge” your batteries, your productivity and motivation will suffer.
Yes, sometimes I have this strange feeling of being lazy or not doing enough when I ake a break, but then I just call my mom ( yeees
) and she says a few kind words to me like: “You deserve this time out.” This takes off the pressure I'm making myself.
To reward myself, I either do a “beauty day” or go out with some friends, watch a movie, read more books ( I'm reading real books every single day), draw, go for a walk or leave the city.
Sometimes I'm at my desk but don't switch on Tweetdeck, Skype or something. That's when I try to get something done and need to be focused. It was kinda hard the first few times, because I always felt like missing out something or not “engaging” enough. But hey, if you want to do business, do what makes money first. Twitter doesn't make money for me. Hope you know what I mean.
I like to buy stuff as a reward when I do something that makes me money, that is how I got my new HD Webcam!
Not so much talking about income here Joe, but just reward for hard work. Sometimes the income takes time to get in this business (I am sure are well aware of that) and if we wait on income, we may be waiting a long time for the rewards….
I find myself having even more drive, and more ideas after taking a short, much needed break.
Launch is actually going great! Thanks.
Unfortunately for some, working from home means working much harder than when we had regular jobs. Sometimes I have to remind myself to get some sleep!
I absolutely know what you mean! Sometimes, blogging doesn't make us money either (not directly). Hmmm, I think I just got an idea for a new post!
Right! Blogging should be tool not the business. Haahaaa…I love it when conversations inspire future work.
Right now, I am driving towards getting my focus just right and moving forward with the investments I need to make. Taking a break for me IS working on the fun side of blogging. I walk out of my real world for just a moment to work on making my dream into the real world in the future. Plus I take a few hours a week to watch a TV show or movie, and unwind.
As for the night/time for the show…I know starting in about 4 weeks I will only have weekends, Monday and Thurs free (wacky class schedule). Time's not a biggie for me, as long as its not super late-plus I'd only be able to make it once a month, maybe twice.
Anyway, that's my two cents on both matters. Glad to read the launch is going well
Brother I was expecting your daughter to pop up and shout 'James Take A Break!'
She did, except she has been telling me to take a break!
Hi Keith!
I find that I'm more productive and clear headed when I come back to work after taking a few days off. I understand, because I just launched an e-book at this site this week. I've been putting in the hard work for the last two weeks trying to get it done. I think I'll take sometime and reward myself.
Definitely agree with you about needing a break. I have such a hard time putting down the phone and email though.
True! Not only are you rewarded with the satisfaction of reaching your goal alone, but you also have the consequences of doing so which are usually good. On top of that I like to treat myself to a present or something fun when I make a big accomplishment.
I feel like I have to take smaller rewards, so I try to have plenty of them. I can't usually find 3 days in a row to take off. But I'll grab half a day every now and then, or some time in the evenings or on weekends, for “just me” things like playing the Wii, lounging in the pool, or reading. Short breaks help rejuvenate me, but I'm not left having to play catch-up to the same degree.
I have a big psychological issue with this in the form of catching up.
You know I subscribe to and comment on many blogs. Entire days off, god forbid more then one, results in high double digit blogs backing up and high tripe digit email.
What to do?
Thanks for the post idea.
I've worked from home for a few years and if I don't take time out now and again, my work turns to crap. I take quite a few “mini-breaks” during the day to get outside or just move around and do something away from the desk. With laptops and internet connections all over the place now I can also take a few days away but pop online for maybe an hour max each day.
I don't have a real preference for the broadcast time, by the way. Pretty flexible here overall.
Taking a break is ok. So long as you earn it. Not there yet.
Man Keith,
Or, maybe the ocean waves will just keep calling to you and you'll make it a longer break.
3 days off with no email ??? I may go through withdrawl.
I'd also feel guilty due to the not being able to respond to folks visiting the blog. I think the best thing would be to pre-load a few posts into be published those days, and let people know if them you'll be back as soon as you can.
BrandonBurgh
Completely agree with you Dennis, I dont mind taking the time off, but the backlog of activity required gets out of hand. We are after all building our business so…
Lesson here I guess is as Keith stated – you have to earn the break. Achieve a small goal within yourself and take the time as a result.
Keith, a very challenging question. Judging by the faces and names I see whatever time I visit social network sites it seems so many just can't let go. They've got to be seen, got to keep blogging and working from dawn to dusk (and beyond for some). I 'walk away' every day in the middle for a good few hours and separate myself. Something so different like a swim, coffee lunch with an old chum, shopping for a new sink once! That's because I simply believe that if I'm burnt out, ill from over doing it or plain paranoid at being noticed in time I will be forced to have a break and that one may be a very long one if not a permanent one! Health before wealth. So to switch off you need to switch off. Save energy, save some of yourself for another day. You are quite right, because we need it.
Whether I've earned it or not is not in question, that's for sure.
I can't take even a day before I figure out how to deal with said backlog.
Normally for most, Monday would be the start of the week but not for me. I try to relax and unwind every Monday. It's a different feeling especially when you think that all people are busy doing their own businesses and I'm on my bed.. oversleeping.
Yea, I occasionally take a break. Although to be the best you have to work the hardest. So maybe taking breaks in the beginning aren't affordable.