“Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” – Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was right. Your happiness and mine depend largely on how willing you and I are to be happy. And our willingness includes the time that we are willing to dedicate to stepping away from our business, having fun, and simply enjoying life.
However, if you are like most business owners, you probably don’t plan for and schedule out enough time to have fun. And if you do get a chance to have fun, it happens in the margins, every once and a while, or not even at all. You may end up neglecting your hobbies, your family, your friends, your pets, and – most of all – yourself.
Most owners I meet are striving for some kind of balance in their lives. But you have most likely realized that if you do not make time for fun, if you don’t intentionally plan for time off, the balance in your life will not happen on its own.
A Recipe For Burnout
Heed this advice: Having NO FUN is a guaranteed recipe for disaster and burnout!
You need to make fun happen – it is not an optional part of our lives. We as business coaches want you to make it happen. Planning time for fun means that you are planning time into your life to gain balance, to experience joy, and to avoid burnout. To do these things, you need to get away from the business and do some things you enjoy that re-energize you.
Think about the people, things, and activities in your life. Ask yourself:
- What and who recharge your battery, creativity, and productivity?
- Do you enjoy certain friends or colleagues?
- Does your family share a love for certain activities?
- Do you get joy from playing with your pets?
- What hobbies have you neglected for a while?
Make Time For Fun
Now take a look at your calendar. Make time for regular breaks from your business so you can enjoy these people, things, and activities. In fact, start this weekend! Get away from your business this weekend and enjoy your family. Have some FUN! Beyond mere pleasure, this is important business coaching and executive coaching advice! The best business owners understand the value of fun in their lives and in the lives of their employees.
