When you own a business, an open afternoon can quickly become a catch-up session.
There are messages to answer, details to organize, and ideas you haven’t had time to develop. Using the available time for yourself may feel difficult to justify.
Recently, I had an afternoon free and saw a last-minute yoga with horses event. The farm was two and a half hours away.
I decided to go anyway.
Horses had been a large part of my life, and I wanted that connection again. The experience left me feeling more centered and creatively refreshed. It also reminded me that making time for yourself deserves a place in the way you plan your work and your life.
Identify what you actually want to do
“More personal time” is a reasonable wish, but it can remain vague enough to postpone indefinitely.
Choose an activity you can picture doing.
Perhaps you want to return to painting, walk a favorite trail, attend a class, or spend an unhurried afternoon with a friend.
Your choice doesn’t need to sound impressive. Consider what you miss, what interests you, and what you have enjoyed in the past.
In my case, acknowledging that I wanted horses back in my life helped me recognize an opportunity when it appeared.
Separate the scheduling problem from the guilt
Some obstacles require a practical solution. You may need childcare, coverage at work, transportation, or a less expensive option.
Other obstacles come from the belief that available time should always go toward something productive.
Before dismissing an activity, look at the actual circumstances:
- Is there a commitment that conflicts with it?
- What would need to be arranged?
- Is there a smaller version that would still be enjoyable?
- Are you available but uncomfortable choosing yourself?
Those questions help you identify what needs solving.
For my trip, the afternoon was available. I needed to decide whether the experience mattered enough to me to make the drive.
Give your attention somewhere else for a while
Business ownership can keep your attention on the same questions day after day. Stepping into a different experience may give you room to see things differently.
During my drive, I listened to an audiobook, called friends, and spent stretches in silence. Ideas also began to emerge.
I hadn’t assigned myself a brainstorming session. I had simply made room for an experience I wanted.
You may notice a similar shift after stepping away. Perhaps an idea becomes clearer, or you return with more patience and willingness to tackle your work.
There is no guarantee that an afternoon off will produce a business result. Pay attention to your experience rather than expecting a particular outcome.
Let enjoyment have value of its own
We, as entrepreneurs are often quick to recognize possibilities. An enjoyable activity can immediately spark thoughts about a workshop, a service, or a collaboration.
Some of those ideas may be worth pursuing.
Still, you can choose an experience without deciding how to monetize it.
I’m curious about the ideas that came from my afternoon with horses. But the afternoon was worthwhile because I wanted to be there and enjoyed reconnecting with something meaningful to me.
Turning every personal interest into a business project could leave you with even more work and very little personal time.
Make one concrete arrangement
Choose an activity, then take the step that makes it more likely to happen.
Put it on your calendar. Buy the ticket if it fits your budget. Arrange help. Invite the friend you’ve been meaning to see.
Afterward, consider whether you enjoyed it and whether you would choose it again. You might discover that a quiet hour suits you better than a scheduled event, or that you’ve been missing the company of other people.
That information can help you make better choices about your personal time.
Consider the life your business needs to support
Sustainable success includes looking at your capacity and the place your work occupies in your life.
If there is consistently no room for anything you enjoy, examine the demands on your time. You may need help, different boundaries, or a change in how your business operates.
Start with this question:
What have you been postponing because it’s just for you?
Listen to the accompanying Limitless Living episode, “How Taking Time for Yourself Can Help You Work Better,” for the full story and this week’s practical reset.
If you’re ready to explore how your business can better support your life, join the Sustainable Success waitlist
