As I write this from the deck in our backyard, periodically glancing at the trees and listening to the gentle oinks of our mini pig in his new pen, I think about how far we've come.
It wasn't that long ago that we were working 50+ hour weeks, 5 days a week, and our happiness and overall health was suffering. I didn't know how to turn off, or what to do to change my current situation.
But as I've entered my 30s, and had many curve balls thrown my way, the lesson that I think of often is the importance of balance.
Changing up your work environment
If you're feeling stressed and overwhelmed, it can be tough to let yourself slow down. To make the conscious choice to change up your work environment, and put your well being first.
There are days where things just seems to kick off, and before you know it, lunch time has passed and you realize you haven't even gotten up from your desk.
Hustle culture expects this, and you may hear CEOs bragging about how little sleep they get and how many extra hours they put in over the weekend.
But, that doesn't mean it's healthy or sustainable long-term.
We're complex, emotional creatures who are not meant to spend the majority of our time inside working. Yet we do.
We sit at our desks, hunched over, staring at computer screens for several hours per day and wonder why we feel so unfulfilled.
Feeling like an employee in your own business
If you are considering starting a business, or are already the owner of your business, one of the motivations behind this decision might have been to have more freedom.
Yet, many business owners (myself included) end up feeling like employees in our own business.
We don't feel like we can take time off whenever we want because the business needs us.
We push ourselves through an illness to get the job done, and resent ourselves for it.
If we were treated this way by anyone other than ourselves, chances are we would have quit. But we want our business to succeed so we allow it to continue and press on.
It doesn't have to be this way for you. There's a small change you can make right now to start on a happier, healthier path - Go outside.
Take your laptop, phone, whatever you have that is portable, and find a nice, quiet place outside to work.
For me, I find I do my best thinking outside. It's when I feel the most relaxed, creative, and happy. New ideas just seem to pop in my head because I've changed my environment.
Thoughts to Brainstorm
As you're learning to get more comfortable with changing your environment and getting outside, you might initially feel stuck.
You're in a new environment, doing something outside of your normal routine and it feels weird.
That's totally normal, as any new habit or change will take some getting used to.
Here are a few questions to consider as you get started:
What can I do now to add value to my customers/clients?
What am I compromising on in my business?
How can I get more time in my day to focus on my top priorities?
What boundaries can I set for myself and my team to find more balance?
What risks am I not taking?
What are the biggest areas of my business I could streamline?
Is my website performing as well as I had hoped?
What optics do I need on my business to help me make better decisions?
How can I add more joy into the day to day operations of my business?
What content can I create that will resonate with my target audience?
Benefits of Working Outside
Nature has a powerful effect on us, and you've probably felt the impact it can have at some point in your life, but if you're still not convinced, here are a few key benefits.
Let's talk about some of the benefits of working outside:
Creativity boost
Memory improvement
Lower blood pressure
Improves customer service
Enhances your mood
Immune system aid
Energy boost
Help with depression
Cleaner, less toxic air
Vitamin D boost
Lower early mortality
If you're feeling like you're on the path to burnout, and are unhappy with your current work situation, I hope this post encourages you to be kinder to yourself.
A change in scenery and environment might be just what you need to help you relax and find some clarity.
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