Before I begin to talk about FUN, how about talking about FUN with my UNSTUCK event coming up on October 25, 26, and 27? We’ve added a PRE-PARTY on Zoom on the 24th for you as well featuring speakers who will dig into your branding, marketing, and messaging FOR NO EXTRA COST TO YOU!! Come reignite your dreams, find ways to think bigger about your business, connect with others, and work through what may be blocking you in your business! EARLY BIRD pricing is going on NOW! Get yours at Unstuckevent.com. I cannot wait to have you there!
Onto other fun things . . .
Recently, I was reading on the US Chamber of Commerce site that 30% of entrepreneurs are working 50 hours a week, and the 25% are working OVER 60 hours a week. These numbers blow me away. Did you start your own business to work evenings, weekends, and whenever work enters your mind? I am guessing no. The statistics got me thinking about what the consequences of working this much are and how can we exit this habit of working too much?
First, what are the consequences? Well, burnout, for one. Burnout causes severe unhappiness, stress, lack of sleep or insomnia, resentment, and moodiness. All that doesn’t even mention the failure of business. If you are working all the time, when are you filling up your own cup? Even if you love your business (which I sincerely hope you do) and you love your clients, if you’re only pouring into others, you will end up sick, tired, and possibly depressed. We cannot, as humans, put all our energy into serving others and into our businesses. That behavior is not sustainable.
So, what is the answer? Well, in part, it’s about FUN. A study at Oxford university found that people who are happy and having fun at work are 20% more productive. What could you do if you were 20% more productive! As entrepreneurs, we don’t always have the luxury of that team environment where we can have game tables at the office or organize group activities. But think about how you can add fun into your life. Can you head outside? Go for a walk with a friend? Spend time being creative (that doesn’t include your business)? Take a day or a half day off each week to do something you love to do but don’t always take the time to do? For me, my fun takes the form of spending time with friends laughing, playing golf, playing tennis, going to the movies, skiing, hiking, walking with friends, and more. And, I also take 4 or 5 weeks off throughout the year. Yes, you read that right—4 or 5 weeks. They are not random weeks—they are planned and strategic in when I take them. I come back ready to work and so refreshed! What can you do to fill up and to take some time for you and what you love? If you’re too busy and don’t have time, you likely need to reevaluate what’s really happening with your time/days/weeks/months.
Here’s why taking time for FUN is important.
1. Fun releases stress. The more stressed we are, the more stressed we are. So doing something that helps you step away and “blow off steam” will de-stress you. As I noted above, fun increases your productivity. You will FEEL LIKE coming back to work.
2. Fun also boosts your confidence. What I mean by this is that you are doing something you’re good at or that you love and not mired in the daily grind of it all. Fun releases endorphins which increase confidence and happiness.
3. Fun is also incredibly good for your health—physical and mental. Breathe, enjoy exercise (whatever form that takes, even if just a walk), journal, THINK, take in some good old-fashioned sunshine. All of this is good for your health.
4. Fun increases your creativity, which also boosts your productivity and ability to think about your business differently because you’ve removed yourself from the routines and constraints of just being in your business.
Ready to get your time back or feeling stuck? Regain your free time and have more FUN, check out our productivity courses here: https://juliemillerdavis.com/productivity-courses/