When Life Gives You Lemons – Make a Drink and Find Your Inner Beach

It’s been said that the last thing you want to do, as an entrepreneur, is to take time off. The cultural motive of being a successful business leader is believed that rest and ‘free-time’ is the anthem of losing. What if I told you that the secret to winning is to sit back and do absolutely nothing?

To clarify any misguided interpretations – being a couch potato is not what I mean. The ultimate secret that will reboot your mind and lead you to achievement and all the wonders of success is doing what you were told not to do: take time off!

Trust me.

With my experience in working those long, dedicated hours, I came across a few ground rules that helped me, which I hope you can benefit from, as well.

Think of work like a game of basketball. Take Stephan Curry, for example, an exceptional pro basketball player and one of the highest paid players in the NBA. Though Curry has a demeanor of being the best, he too “takes breaks” and gets the rest he needs before booting up again.

I understand that I’m referencing a game that requires little to no body percentage fat and a high-tolerance in cardio, but speaking in relevancy to the workplace, it’s our cognitive minds that are doing the cardio – creating mental fatigue.

But, having a lower body percentage fat would be nice too.

Take extra long breaks

Studies show that 1 in 3 Canadian workers take a lunch break – leaving the other 65% of employees either eating at their desk or not eating at all. It’s important to take any break possible to get AWAY from your desk. By doing this, it relieves stress and revamps your creative brain from being in a “writers block.”

Vacation or Stay-cation

Here is something I found crucial in my lifestyle of being an entrepreneur. In my early years, I was on-call, working 12-hour shifts and always traveling. I soon realized I was missing out on numerous plans with my family and friends. I’m not telling you to grab some sunscreen, throw on your swim shorts and buy your plane ticket to the Bahamas. But, have a stay-cation and spend the time needed with your loved ones.

Don’t burn yourself out

Work hard, but play hard too. Moving from task-to-task gets your brain mentally fatigued very quickly so you can see its importance in taking a “mental break.” Burning yourself out leads to a poor performance and poor decision-making. When working on a project for more then an hour, you should be taking a mental break or going on a walk to get away from your desk.

These are a few of the guidelines I have set for myself that have benefited me substantially based on my own experiences. Follow these simple rules and I promise you a life of success and achievement.