How do you switch off?

[Businesswise Solutions]

Having strict boundaries between your work time and your personal time can really help switch off from work and reduce the stress that this extra thinking is causing.
As a business owner though, where do you set these boundaries? I find myself waking up in the middle of most nights with thoughts and ideas, I have a notepad under my bed full of these and it really annoys the missus when I sit up and put the bedside lamp on at 3am to make these notes!

I've tried a number of things to relax and get the stresses of running a company to a manageable level, but then when I have nothing occupying my mind, its then when business kicks in again!

Has anybody got any hints or tips as to how I can 'Switch off'

Regards

 

[MartBrooks]

I leave my laptop and phone at home, and head off to my local badminton club. 2 hours of pulse-pounding, sweat-soaked, high-speed matchplay a few times a week helps keep me sane.

 

[mono one]

I know how you feel... but I've no easy answers!
I often find I come up with some good ideas as three in the morning when there's nothing else to occupy my mind. Haven't got the notepad under the bed yet though!

 

[KraveMedia]

I find myself waking up in the middle of most nights with thoughts and ideas, I have a notepad under my bed full of these and it really annoys the missus when I sit up and put the bedside lamp on at 3am to make these notes!

I keep a sketchpad next to my bed at all times, I feel I'm in the same position! Although I wouldn't say it's necessarily a bad thing. Inspiration can come at any time so it's good to be prepared

I do try to allocate times that I force myself not to do any work. I live in a pretty rural area so I find going on long walks into the middle of an empty field is pretty mind clearing.

 

[Steve202]

Fishing, its only the real time I can switch off.

I normally keep my ideas stored on my laptop in OneNote, although I'm getting pee'd off a little just lately because I keep having these awesome ideas when I'm driving, but by the time I found some where to safely pull over, the ideas gone.

 

[Businesswise Solutions]

I live in a pretty rural area so I find going on long walks into the middle of an empty field is pretty mind clearing.

I tried this but ended up scribbling my ideas on cows and gateposts.....

 

[kate1]

Me too,

Cant switch off.

But I think this is just the way I am.

I think something to do with my starsign, Capricorn, lol

 

[Deleted member 61074]

Cant switch off.

But I think this is just the way I am.

It takes alot of persistance to learn how to switch off, like all skills practice practice practice.

to a certain extent having the notebook by the bed encourages you to wake up and scribble in it. Remove the notebook and tell your mind not to bother to have these brilliant ideas as you can not jot them down.

I watched the C4 program awhile ago about kids that wouldnt sleep, one set of parents were re-enforcing the kids routine to wake up by giving him a bottle each time, the advise was remove the bottle and the child will stop waking up - it worked!

I switch off - first by turning off the laptop, turning off my business mobile, then going for a walk, cooking, watching corrie, talking to my family and so on. if business keeps popping into my mind i just discard it and move on

 

[Businesswise Solutions]

Any advice to a Scorpio Kate??!!

 

[kate1]

Lol

I know my star sign is quite renowned for this.

I think I get over excited at the prospect of new business etc, then I start trying to come up with different marketing ideas and gimmicks.

Because I freelance, I kind of throw myself completely into trying to think of new ideas for whoever I am working for

 

[davek17]

With great difficulty, especially since the ipad and iphone have been available!!!

I'm not condoning the use of alcohol but popping in to the local for a few on a Friday evening helps, especially when the girlfriend bans the iPhone too!!

I also love getting away on my bike. It's kind of reassuring to know you can't answer a call even if you try!!

Dave

 

[Businesswise Solutions]

It takes alot of persistance to learn how to switch off, like all skills practice practice practice.

to a certain extent having the notebook by the bed encourages you to wake up and scribble in it. Remove the notebook and tell your mind not to bother to have these brilliant ideas as you can not jot them down.

I watched the C4 program awhile ago about kids that wouldnt sleep, one set of parents were re-enforcing the kids routine to wake up by giving him a bottle each time, the advise was remove the bottle and the child will stop waking up - it worked!

I switch off - first by turning off the laptop, turning off my business mobile, then going for a walk, cooking, watching corrie, talking to my family and so on. if business keeps popping into my mind i just discard it and move on

Great advice, I will definitely try this. I shall remove my notebook and place it firmly into my office!

Many thanks

 

[Mpg]

Piano and mountain biking.

Unfortuantly one of them caused me to hit the ground and I have road rash and a slight dislocation of my shoulder. So can now do neither.

So back away I'm highly strung right now.


On the plus side I got my accounts up to date a day early. albeit 04:00 this morning

 

[thekitchendesigner]

Strange this should come up - i've been having a conversation with the wife this week about exactly this! I have big trouble switching off at night. Although i leave the office at 5 (unless i have an appt), we have young kids so when i walk in the door its play/dinner/bath time etc which is hectic! By the time thats all over it would either be more work or TV on the sofa.

This was getting be down big time as my mind wasnt thinking about anything else but work. It was also making it hard to work in the day as it was so full on 24/7

I'm now making a concerted effort to do something each night that distracts me. Thursday nights is cooking night (choc chip cookies last night!), a nice drive, making a model kit (sad yes i know), swim etc are all things i'm going to try.

Last night the time flew by and i hadnt even thought about anything work related!

 

[Deleted member 61074]

I would say it took me a year to stop turning my pc back on in the evenings... i've gone from working every evening to maybe 30 mins once a week

I agree with Mr Kitchens once you stop thinking business 24/7 you end up being fresher and more productive for the 8-10 hrs you do devote.

 

[KraveMedia]

I think music and cooking definitely help. I listen to music while I'm working anyway but if I do need to take some time out then playing the guitar works pretty well, baking also. Plus you get to eat something tasty (9 out of 10 times) at the end of it.

 

[Chris Kaday]

Yes really understand this one. At the height of my business with a couple of hundred staff I had a beautiful 6 berth boat moored at a marina near the office. Sometimes I used to go down there just for a cup of tea and to give it a wash. The trips we made on the Thames were also a complete switch off. Boats on a river go at one pace - slow and it was one of the few times I really relaxed. I decided to buy one after the few staff I had at the time and I hired a boat for a weekend and as I cruised past Henley I thought I could really do with one of these. I sunk most of my available cash into one and never looked back.
Ah the Mrs - I understand that too. However my Mrs can now buy whatever she wants whenever she wants - part of the benefits of building and selling a successful business. However I appreciate not always a powerful argument with the good lady at 3.00 in the morning when you are only part of the way there.
Good luck
Chris

 

[johndon68]

making a model kit (sad yes i know),

Works for me :redface:

I no longer give my mobile phone number out and, if I want to ensure a work free night, I just leave the laptop in the office...

John

 

[thekitchendesigner]

Works for me :redface:

John

Lol! I'm really looking forward to it tbh. I collect 1/18th scale cars so i'm going to get a kit one - then have the satisfaction of adding another to the collection whilst knowing i built it too!

 

[johndon68]

I do ships in 1/350 and tanks in 1/35.

John

 

[thekitchendesigner]

Has it escalated to making a 1/1 "model" yet??

 

[johndon68]

Has it escalated to making a 1/1 "model" yet??

Got 3 of those running around the house...

John

 

[Deleted member 74679]

I have to force myself to switch off as I have a little boy (who was my motivation for setting up a business rather than being employed and relying on childcare) so if I don't, I know I'm shortchanging him.

Right, 5 pm - think I'd better go and start his tea!

 

[Justin_B]

I cycle for 90 minutes a day, minimum ...or go to the gym if it’s raining

 

[bdw]

I no longer give out my mobile number either. I was getting calls even on the bowling green on a Saturday afternoon from people who think their particular requirement is the most important thing in the world - even at the weekend.

The bowling green and a few drinks in the clubhouse is how I switch off and it's very effective. I also go for long walks of 5 to 10 miles ending in the pub for a few real ales.

 

[Hombre]

Karate Evening Classes. Trust me your business mind will go blank. I can recommend clubs depending where you are based.

 

[bdw]

Whit?

I will be 62 on my next birthday and I am currently suffering from a really painful bout of sciatica. I don't think karate would help me.

 

[maxine]

I agree about the comment about not having the notepad by your bed in the first place ... but for me it's my phone and typing in a note on there.

The thing I found helped for me was building in some time into my week for creative thinking and business planning so that I was devoting time to it properly rather than have things ping into my head at other times!

Good luck