I’m writing this article from my desk, but by the time you read it, I’ll be somewhere rather lovely in Portugal with my wife Kay, hopefully with a glass of something cold in my hand and absolutely zero emails on my mind.
I’ll be honest, scheduling this time wasn’t easy. The past few weeks have been really busy. There were client meetings to prep for, programmes to deliver, a thousand little fires to put out.
You know how it goes.
The diary fills up, the to-do list gets longer, and suddenly you realise you haven’t had a proper break in… well, too long.
But I’ve learned the hard way – if I don’t put myself in the diary, everything else suffers. My business suffers. My team suffers. My family suffers. And most importantly, I suffer.
The Myth of “I’ll Rest When It’s Quieter”
We’ve all said it. “Things are mad right now, but next month will be calmer.” Then next month comes, and guess what? It’s just as busy. The truth is, if you’re running a business that’s growing, if you’re leading a team that’s thriving, it’s never going to be “quiet.”
Waiting for the perfect moment to take a break is like waiting for a teenager to tidy their room without being asked. It’s a lovely idea, but it’s never actually going to happen!
The only way to take time off is to schedule it in. Put it in the diary and treat it with the same importance as that crucial client meeting or that strategy session you’ve been planning for months. Why? Because it’s just as important, and maybe even more so!
You’re No Good to Anyone Running on Empty
I used to wear busyness like a badge of honour. “I’ve got back-to-back meetings all week.” “I’ve been working since 5am.” “I haven’t taken a holiday in months.”
Looking back, I wasn’t being a hero. I was being an idiot.
When you’re exhausted, when your tank is empty, you’re not showing up as your best self. You’re making slower decisions, you’re less creative, you’re more irritable and you’re missing things.
The people around you, your team, your family, they’re getting the dregs of you, not the best of you.
It’s like trying to drive a car on fumes. Sure, you might splutter along for a bit, but eventually, you’re going to grind to a halt at the worst possible moment.
It’s Not Selfish, It’s Strategic
This is where a lot of business owners get stuck. They think taking time off is selfish. “What about my clients? What about my team? What about the business?”
Let me flip that around. What about them when you burn out? What about them when you’re so exhausted you can’t think straight? What about them when you’re snappy, stressed, and running on caffeine and adrenaline?
Looking after yourself isn’t selfish. It’s the most strategic thing you can do. When you’re rested, recharged, and genuinely present, that’s when you do your best work. That’s when you lead effectively and it’s when you make the decisions that actually move the business forward.
Planning Personal Life Like You Plan Your Business
One of the best things I ever did was start treating my personal life with the same respect I give my business commitments.
That means blocking out time for family, hobbies and for exercise. There’s even time for doing absolutely nothing if that’s what I need.
And the critical bit…once it’s in the diary, it’s non-negotiable. I don’t move it unless there’s a genuine emergency.
It sounds simple, but for a lot of us it requires a real mindset shift. We’re brilliant at planning our work diaries but terrible at planning our lives. We let personal time be the thing that gets squeezed out, the thing that can wait but what happens when we do that?
We end up all work and no play, which as the saying goes, makes us all pretty dull and ineffective.
A Little System Goes a Long Way
If you’re struggling to fit everything in and like there’s never enough time, it’s worth taking a step back and looking at how you’re managing your diary.
Are you being intentional about where your time goes or are you just reacting to whatever lands in front of you?
Sometimes we need a bit of structure, a bit of support, to get this right. That’s why I’m such a fan of the Foundations of Success course. It’s as it’s all about helping you take control of your time, your energy, and your focus so you can build a business and a life that actually works for you.
You can grab a free place using the code ATVIP at https://lmi-uk.com/foundations-of-success/. It’s a brilliant starting point if you’re feeling overwhelmed and aren’t sure where to begin.
So Here’s My Challenge to You
Before you finish reading this, I want you to do something.
Open your diary. Right now.
Block out some time for yourself.
Maybe it’s a long weekend away, a day off mid-week or even just an afternoon to do something you love.
Whatever it is, put it in. Make it real and protect it.
You can’t pour from an empty cup and if you want to keep showing up for your business, your team, your family, and yourself, you’ve got to make sure your cup is full.
I’ll be doing exactly that this week in Portugal and when I come back, I’ll be ready to tackle whatever comes next with energy, clarity, and a properly rested brain.
That’s the version of me my business needs and I bet it’s the version of you that your business needs too.
Here’s to taking breaks, filling your cup, and remembering that looking after yourself is the smartest business decision you can make.
