Time Integrity for Entrepreneurs: Enjoy the Time of Your Life, Part 3

Our culture seems to make everything available seven days a week, twenty-four hours per day. People who once rested on the weekend now use that time for many activities and chores. Our lives seem to contain endless work. All of us must become conscious of the scope of damage that this stressful, materialist cycle has on our peace of mind, happiness, health, communities and our spiritual connection. Is this living in integrity with our values? Are you a human being or a human doing?

Create a retreat for a day or week from time to time to do whatever gives your soul some relaxation and recreation. If you want to avoid non-resourceful states of mind, then take time to be still and listen to your inner self. A retreat will allow you to heal from the insanely busy world and return to nature and to who you really are. When you take time to listen to the inner part of your God Source (that part of you that centers you and gives your peace of mind), you will find that most of your problems will be resolved more easily and you are less likely to operate from a crisis state of mind.

I finally convinced one of my coaching clients that he didn’t have to work so much to be productive. He said that when he stopped working on Sundays, his clarity, enthusiasm for life, and ability to be of service to his customers began to improve. Plus, he became a better father and husband because of increased compassion and patience. He was also able to create new ways to increase his business profits. His stress level decreased and he was sincerely a happier person who was not obsessed with small mistakes. Further, by scheduling time for family and rest, he was motivated to expand his business. He found that he was more productive because he took a break from the daily obligations of being a boss and business owner.

Before he passed away, my father told me that his biggest regret in life was that he did not spend enough time with his children. The bottom line: If you are not scheduling at least one day of rest and fun, then the world will not give it to you. You must declare independence from the constant, draining cycles of work. Take the time to connect to your inner source and KID and give yourself permission to have a life and more fun. According to the old saying, no one says on his or her deathbed, I wish I had worked more! Most people always want to spend more time with loved ones, worry less, and enjoy and appreciate the good life.

I have learned from my father’s regret. I now take one day a week just for me, my family and my spiritual work. I don’t look at e-mails, answer the phone or do mundane chores. I spend time with my loved ones, walk in nature, meditate, pray, write in my journal and greatly appreciate my blessings. I take this quiet time to envision my future and write goals that I want to achieve in my life. This day brings me back to a centered feeling that assists me with the demands of the modern world. I return to work feeling rested, with a sense of calmness that supports me all week long. Trust me, I need this day to let my brain rest from my many simultaneous projects. I rest from the relentless need to create ideas that drive all entrepreneurs. When your brain does not rest from your business life, you become grumpy, unhappy and difficult, and cause problems in your personal life. Please allow this column to be your wake-up call that you must schedule rest and fun during your busy life, before it’s too late!

I suggest that you try an experiment for three weeks. Keep in mind that it only takes 21 days to create a habit. Choose one day of the week just for you and your family. Use this day to focus on your needs and wants. Stop thinking about work, but when you do, write the thought on a piece of paper and put it in a place where you can find it the next day, so you can give yourself permission to let that thought wait until you’ve returned to work. Give your brain a rest from all the demands of your business. Make sure that your family and loved ones know that they are important to you. Do something that fills your soul with the joy you deserve. There are no other rules. Create the day to suit you. Allow the kid inside you to have fun and play! Experience a FEEL GOOD sensation one day a week. Life seems to move much too fast. Please take the time to rejuvenate yourself.