Have you ever been on a family holiday, or been on a 'break' from your business (as rare as this can sometimes be) and one of you, if not both you and your lady, are nowhere near close to chilling the eff out?
Do you find you are bad company and your family don't like you because you are still so stressed and focussed on what is going on in your business?
Or, you are still semi-attached to your phone, checking emails, calling suppliers because 'I just have to organise this one more thing for a job in January', and then, to add insult to injury - you come back from the 'break' and you are still exhausted because you really haven't even switched off?
Sound familiar?
Problem is that if you don't pay attention to what is happening in the NOW of your family holiday or your break - it is going to lead to a breakdown..
Here are our hard-hitting reasons why you need to Chill the Eff Out over this Christmas break:
1. You are eventually going to have a meltdown - I guarantee it - I have seen too many blokes in tears because they didn't head this advice - so - please read on…
2. You are gonna get divorced or your kids will file for emancipation because they resent that you don't spend any time with them!
3. Your customers will respect you more & follow your lead - if you are jumping when they call at their every whim - you are setting yourself up to be a puppet - with them pulling at the strings. So, set the scene with expectations.
4. Your body will give up. In one way or another - it will give you a big old 'I don't think so mate' at some point - heart attack, deep depression, injury - it will all show up.
Now that we’ve given you the wake-up call to chill out, here are 5 actions you can do to Chill the Eff Out over the break:
1. Put an out of the office on your email
No, this does not mean you still check your phone every time it beeps because an email comes through - it means actually put the out of office message on that says something like 'we are currently on holidays but we do still check email. This happens once per day at 7am - so we will endeavour to get back to you within 48hrs of your email. Like you - we like to spend quality time with our family - and we want that for you too 🤗
2. Set yourself a daily goal that is NOT business-related Work out, play with the kids, take your lover on a date. Have some cheeky intimate time. Go buy something, have a massage (PLEASE DO THIS), call a mate you haven't chatted to for a while.
3. Just set a DAILY goal that is going to fill your relax cup. Do it with your partner or your kids; Do a daily ritual with your family at the end of the day - 'what are we grateful for today?' or watch a fun show together.
4. Before you go on your break - PLAN the first 2 weeks back at work. Schedule the staff. Order the materials for delivery. Tell the customers you are out of there and you WILL NOT be contactable.
5. Go somewhere with no reception OR don't take your phone!!
A story of the plumber who did...One day, Bob the plumber recognised that the only calls he really got to his phone were work calls anyway - so prior to going on a family holiday he left his phone at home in the drawer and told his important mates and family to call his wife if they needed him. He also put a message on his phone that said 'our plumbing business is closed until 10th Jan, we apologise for any inconvenience and look forward to seeing you in the new year'.
He came back on top of the world - checked his missed calls and messages in the week before he started back up, booked a few jobs that he felt were worthwhile, and enjoyed his holiday, he said 'it was bloody awesome - I hardly thought of work at all'.
If you were actually able to take a holiday where you 100% rested and rejuvenated, loved on your partner, had a ball with your kids - how much better would your 2021 start off?
How would that change your sex life?
How would it change your relationship with your kids and how they feel about you when you are in holiday mode?
I know how much better it would be mate - so - pull ya finger out and do what needs to be done to ACTUALLY enjoy the Christmas break.
Big love
LWT
