It’s time to learn the art of doing nothing! 

Let me share some eye-opening statistics with you. Research shows that productivity plummets when we’re burnt out or overwhelmed. And yet according to a survey by Tork® 40 percent (39%) of people say they only occasionally, rarely or never take breaks during the workday. 

In fact, nearly a quarter (22%) of people feel guilty or judged when they step away from work midday. 

This is despite the fact that 94% of team members acknowledge they’re happier when they’re able to take a break. So, let’s stop glorifying busyness and start embracing the power of rest and rejuvenation.

As professional athletes know all too well, rest and recovery are crucial for peak performance.

They understand that pushing themselves to the brink of exhaustion leads to burnout and diminished results. 

So why do we, as business owners, neglect this vital aspect of our lives? It’s time to change that. Here’s five ways to get you started…

1. First and foremost, set clear non-negotiable boundaries. Ask yourself, “If I say yes to this, what am I saying no to?” 

It’s essential to prioritise your well-being and not spread yourself too thin. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup.

2. Next, pay attention to your language. The words you use shape your reality. If you’re constantly telling yourself you’re “busy,” guess what? You’ll perpetuate that busy cycle. 

Banish the B-word from your vocabulary and focus on creating space for what truly matters. 

3. Creating idle time is key. Plan ahead and incorporate micro-moments of joy and breathing room into your day. It could be as simple as a 60-second meditation, practising box breathing, or feeling the earth beneath your bare feet. 

These micro-moments give you a pause from the chaos and allow you to recharge.

4. Don’t forget the power of nature. Spending time outdoors reconnects you with yourself and the world around you. Did you know that in Australia, being in nature is proven to have significant benefits for health and well-being? 

So, find nature wherever you are. Take a walk, visit a park, or even go camping. Embrace the healing energy of the natural world.

5. And finally, it’s time to introduce the concept of “putting the jug down.” Picture this: you’re juggling multiple tasks, trying to do it all at once, and inevitably, something slips through your fingers. Sound familiar? If you want to know more about the concept of putting the jug down, check out this podcast episode.

It’s time to let go of multitasking and focus on one mindful thing at a time. Release the overwhelm and give yourself permission to be present.

These are just the highlights, my friend. For a deeper dive into these transformative practices, I invite you to listen to the podcast episode where Ness and I discuss them in more detail. Trust me; it’s a game-changer.

Stuck in the busy trap?

Working long hours against your will?

As the founder of a business, the responsibility can weigh heavily on your shoulders.

Sure, you have a team, but they aren’t always the solution to all your problems, like you thought (hoped and prayed maybe?) they’d be.

When someone mentions the phrase work/life balance you roll your eyes and say “I wish!”

But we have more control over our time than we take responsibility for.

And I learned that the hard way…

You see, starting my own business was something I did in my early 40’s after a lengthy career in a safe Government job for 15 years. 

My old career taught me that to progress and succeed, you had to work hard (aka long hours and weekends). 

It came naturally then that I would work every day of the week at some point or another. 

Trying to hit that first $100K was like getting a rocket ship off the ground and I believed that to earn it I had to ‘deserve’ it. 

And then I had to work hard to maintain and grow it, being across everything myself to make sure my clients got the level of service that I believed only I could give them. 

Until one day working (yet again) at my desk during the school holidays, my daughter (who was in primary school at the time) came up beside me to ask me something. 

I didn’t turn to her, just kept typing and said ‘what’s up?’. 

She stopped me dead in my tracks when she said ‘Mum if Cameron (my son) or I died, would you take time off work for our funeral?’ 

Wow. That hurt! 

But how was I to know that working long hours and being busy wasn’t the answer to success? 

Nobody teaches this stuff, you have to learn it the hard way as a female founder. 

How could you know not to do it differently? 

A study by Gartner in the US found that work-life balance is valued more than health benefits, which makes sense given that work-life integration keeps us healthy. 

And yet, according to the same study, we take 26% of our work home with us increasing our chance of burnout due to overwork, and 40% use their computers after 10 p.m., reducing what’s considered optimal sleep quality. 

But it doesn’t have to be that way. 

A smarter way of working isn’t just about doing another time management course. 

It’s about moving your thinking and behaviour to ensure you find the time freedom you are searching for.

Nicky and I have worked with enough clients to know that you can get out of the busy trap and find that elusive time freedom you’re looking for.

This is the answer:

And this is how you get there: 

1. Move away from the beliefs that keep you feeling like you are continually ‘busy’ and start to prioritise living in a way you want to live.
2. Set strong boundaries. You’ll know you are doing this well if you find yourself saying ‘yes’ less than you say ‘no’ to requests that are against what you want to do.
3. Understand what drives your behaviour and make sure you are finding resourceful ways of meeting your needs.