Last week we discussed the benefits of a summer vacation. But what about when you don’t want to work AT ALL in summer? What about when you have children and you are trying to also run a company? Scroll to the bottom to address this tricky issue.
First, let’s address the real benefits of slowing down. Why does this work so well when we are addressing productivity?
Slowing down gives space to our subconscious, letting our intuition come to conclusions in a less logical way. Letting our creativity flow is a big step towards being more productive, after all, we are human beings, not robots. Our productivity doesn’t depend on speed and efficiency, it depends on our creativity, intuition and innovation, and these things need space to flourish. Nothing shuts down inspiration faster than forcing it. Yup, it’s counterintuitive.
Creativity is everything. Many jobs can be exported, and have been, to people who can work for far lower pay than us. The only thing that truly sets you apart is your creativity and innovation. Creativity stems from connections between disparate ideas, but unless you have explored a variety of experiences, you will not have anything to draw from. Going on vacation or simply taking some time off work provides a wealth of novelty to spur creativity.
When we slow down and give ourselves time to think, we notice the difference between getting things done and getting the RIGHT things done (and doing them well).
“It’s only when we start asking ourselves questions like “what am I actually doing here?”, that thinking time starts to feel productive”
The human body and mind need breaks and vacations to provide rest and benefits that have a much greater influence on success and happiness than clocking in overtime at work. Overworking yourself isn’t going to make you more likely to succeed. If anything, it may make you resent your work, lower its quality, and negatively impact your happiness.
OK, so, maybe it’s your situation that you are an entrepreneur with kids home for the summer. Yikes, what do you do?
This is not easy! Camp is expensive. Running kids around or trying to work with loud and needy kids in your home is far worse though. You may be thinking “I’ll just take the summer off.”
Here are some items to consider:
- Can you afford to take the summer “off”? Do you need the cash flow? If you stop working, how will this affect your workflow/cash flow in the fall?
- Get real. Even if you take 4 weeks off of the 8-10 weeks, doing so purposefully is a much better strategy.
I work all summer. I also take vacation. As my children grow, their needs change. Being real about what you expect is critical – boundaries come into play here. Our children love to push our boundaries, and we don’t do what we “should” do. We do what we value.
This is tricky! We will talk more about this in our July Lunchtime Love. Also feel free to email me at Carol@eps-time.com to untangle the web of conflicting voices in your head….
Be amazing, be bold, rest well!
Carol