In the day that I’ve been back from vacation I’ve cleaned out my inboxes, unsubscribed from a whole lot of newsletters, cleaned off the top of my desk and generally experienced a new burst of energy. I’m glad to be back and ready to tell people about my new Get A Life teleseminar- I can’t wait. Before I left I was feeling frustrated and impatient. I wasn’t looking forward to managing or marketing my business, I just wanted to coach clients. Everything else was a chore I wouldn’t take on. Michael Gerber uses “E-Myth” for the term Entrepreneurial Myth, let’s say I had ”E-Burnout”, entrepreneurial burnout. Just one week’s break took care of those symptoms.

One of the things we coaches advocate is “extreme self-care”, and it was important for me to be reminded of the pay-off. All work and no play isn’t good for the bottom-line. You aren’t at your best unless you take care of yourself. The airlines have it right; you need to put the oxygen mask on yourself before you put one on your child.

Pay attention to your reserves. Getting sick a lot? Always tired? Wishing you were somewhere else? What’s your energy level? Figure it out and make the time for a dose of extreme self-care. If you have commitments, then take a mini-break. Take an afternoon off. Listen to music that you love. See a movie or show. Work out. Get a massage. Do something just for yourself. And be sure and schedule a real vacation, 2 consecutive weeks once a year and other time as well- a week or long weekends now and then. At the end of the day, you and your business will be healthier if you do. (and the people around you will be happier too!)

Think you can’t take a vacation? Get real. If you can’t take time off, then you need to fix your business or get a job. Successful entrepreneurs take vacations. Happy people take vacations. You’re smart- revisit your priorities and make it happen.

I never could understand those people who boast about how many hours and weekends they put in……..always seemed like admitting you’re stupid……..what do you think?