5 ways to switch off for business success

Do you have difficulty switching off from your business?

When Stewart came to me to ask if I could help him, he told me he was working 70 hours a week, getting home to collapse onto his sofa before waking up in the wee small hours to stagger upstairs to bed.

Stewart was not in a good place: his memory and focus were shattered, he was making mistakes, and crashing out on the sofa every evening meant his wife wasn’t speaking to him. His business was stagnant.

Research tells us that productivity falls sharply after 50 hours working per week, and drops off a cliff after 55 hours, so much so that someone who puts in 70 hours produces nothing more with those extra 15 hours. So there is no point working that many hours.

There are also findings from a World Health Organisation study showing the damage to our physical health that overwork can cause.

Working an average of 55 hours or more each week increases your risk of stroke by 35 percent and your risk of dying from heart disease by 17 percent, compared to averaging a 35-40 hour workweek.

We need to switch off more which is what Stewart got to do when he followed my Balanced Business Success Programme.

We looked at his daily routines, the way he wasn’t managing his time, we looked at his numbers, his customers’ experience of being in Stewart’s business and we resolved his team issues.

?? All sorted! ??

Stewart’s business is moving in the direction he longed for – and his marriage is back on track too.

If you’d like to find out more about my Balanced Business Success Programme, you can book a free place at our next webinar on 19th July , or get in touch directly.

In the meantime, here are 5 easy things you can do now to switch off every day:

?1.??????Just turning off your phone or locking it in a drawer out of sight and sound for an evening – or even an hour – is a good start.

2.??????Just as you might book a meeting in your calendar with a customer or supplier, why not book a meeting with yourself? Block out some time in your diary to switch off, treat yourself as your most valued customer and be sure to meet with yourself mindfully!

3.??????Find a new hobby completely unrelated to your business. Then find a group or a club (online or in person) relating to that hobby where you can meet new people and have conversations on topics other than your business.

4.??????Commit to activities that will enhance your personal health and wellbeing as a way of switching off from your business. For example, sign up with a personal trainer who will turn up at your house at a set time to ensure you have to switch off.

5.??????Be more mindful. Do something without distraction, really staying focused in the present moment. There are numerous ways to be mindful, staying focused in the present moment without worrying about the past or planning the future. Keep your thoughts resting in the present moment now.5 ways to switch off for business success