Okay, I’ll ‘fess up.
I’m seriously guilty of this one.
I justify it by saying stuff like, ‘but I just love my work’, ‘who has time for breaks’, ‘I’m not a slacker’, ‘it’s not like work for me’
And truthfully, it’s bull.
(Hey, if the language is strong today…that’s the way I’m telling it!).
I reckon it started a long time ago. I truly love my work and it often feels like it’s not ‘real’ work – at least not the kind we grew up with. You know, you put in the hours, you do what it takes to get the salary; you just make the best of it.
Well, it’s not like that for me. Ever since I started my own business, I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world because I get to do what I love, what I’m good at and get paid for it. But here’s the thing, that’s a massive TRAP.
I’m not kidding. And that’s why I say, it started a long time ago. You see, I don’t think I noticed when I started using it as an excuse, the ‘l love what I do’ thing.
Here’s what I mean. I started working crazy hours, night and day and thinking, well, it’s just at the start, just while I get established. But getting established can take years, (actually it does take years) and when is enough? When does an entrepreneur ever say ‘ok, I can take it easy now?’ That’s right, NEVER.
So I found myself getting into the habit of working ALL the time. And that’s not the worst of it.
I was working all the time, still loving what I do, but not even realizing that I was cutting down or out on some of the really important things in my life. And I mean, REALLY important things.
Okay, so now it’s getting hard to admit…to confess.
I found myself using work as an excuse, that’s right, I love what I do. But that means when other stuff gets tough, well, sorry I’ve gotta work, right?
When people called me out on my sh*t, well, I don’t have time for that, I’ve gotta work, right?
When my kids starting saying, mommy’s working ALL the time (even when I thought I wasn’t), well, I gotta’ grow my business, right?
Finally, I began to see (and it was not easy, it’s still not easy…) that when stuff got tough for me, I RAN AWAY to work. I escaped there. It felt okay there because I had a big reason to be cut off, I had to work, right?
I feel sick as I’m writing this. Yep, I guess I still do this sometimes.
So, here’s the deal
Get the hell out. I’m learning to do it.
Not because I don’t feel like I have the best job in the world. Not because I don’t love what I do. Not because I’m not a hardcore entrepreneurial spirit with HUGE passion to change the world. Not because I’m not 100% sure it’s already happening.
But because I love my life, my kids, my sweet, gentle partner. Because I value me and what I need to sustain and nurture me.
Can you relate to this? Truthfully, I don’t think there’s a soul in the world that can’t. So, go on, get the hell out.
Go for a walk, run, or cycle. Smell the flowers, breathe in some fresh air. Take a vacation. Go for coffee with a good friend. Eat a meal out for a change. Go for a swim in the ocean, walk your dog. Take a few days away. Watch a movie or three!
There’s no shortage of stuff to do, just get the hell out!
What’s stopping you? Share it here.
