Would The World Stop If You Did?
“Vacation’s all I ever wanted …” – The Go-Gos
You may have noticed a long silence on the blog after a steady stream of posts for the Better Sleep series. That was on purpose. You see, I was burning out. The day job, the blog, other things … I was just at my wit’s end, and I’m not afraid to say it. During my conversations with other bloggers and entrepreneurs I’ve discovered that I’m not the only one.
We’re all human. We may look prolific and successful, but it’s just as hard for us to keep juggling all of our responsibilities as it is for anyone else. (Here’s a tip – everything always looks like it comes easier for other people, but it ain’t so). So this next series of posts will be about getting a fast paced life more balanced, a step at a time. But first …
What To Do Before You Crash And Burn
I’ve crashed and burned before. Wasn’t pretty. I could sense the day job was taking me that route and I needed to get the hell out of Dodge, as they say, mighty fast. I took the family to the beach for 3 much needed days and came back a happier man.
But it wasn’t easy. I had so many projects at work going on, that for weeks I just couldn’t seem to get out from under them. I was responsible for this thing, and that thing, and the other thing. I was taking point on so many things that the job was running me rather than the other way around. So I did the only thing I could – I told my boss that if I didn’t get time off right now, I was going to totally burn out.
Amazingly, The World Did Not End
For the next 3 days, my responsibilities got shifted on to other people. Meetings were held and decisions that people had been dragging on were finally made, because they had to be. Others shouldered the workload. Fortunately, most people were understanding and supportive. And when I returned, it wasn’t to the chaos I expected. I had a million emails to catch up on, to be sure, but my projects survived without me.
I think most of us view the world at times with “Armageddon goggles,” where we get caught up in all our responsibilities and think that we can’t take a break or everything will go all to hell. But it ain’t so. You can take that vacation you desperately need. Or you can just take a day off and catch up on some rest and relaxation. You just have to decide to before you burn out.
Do You Desperately Need A Break?
If you’re like most people, life is moving faster than you want it. You have to take some time for yourself. You have to slow down every now and then. Think of it this way – how many times have you been flat out sick for a day or two, unable to do anything, and yet your business / life / universe managed on without you for that short time? Relive that moment, except for th deathly ill part. Take some time to recharge. If you have no time, make it. Pretend there’s an emergency that you have to plan around, except this emergency is you need a frickin’ break already.
Easier said than done? Yes. As hard as you’ve imagined it to be? Probably not.
If you’re all mellow at the moment, just subscribe to this blog via email or RSS and keep your eyes out for more good stuff. But if you’re stressed as hell, than take my advice. Find a way to get a break – before you break. You’ll thank yourself for it.
Let me be the first to step up to the plate here (and if anyone beats me to a comment, I am going to ignore you
and say I read the title and clicked over because I knew I wanted to say something.
Lately, we shut down our blog for two weeks. We’d had it. We spent that two weeks plus almost two more cleaning up our plates.
Last week I opened my email and realized… I had no work. I had nothing to do. I had vacation and rest and anything I wanted right there in my hands.
I didn’t know what to do with myself. I paced for three days.
This week? I’ve managed to adjust and I don’t ever want to go back to what I did. Never. It’s not worth it.
And this week? I have watched four of my close friends have mental breakdowns because they are pushing themselves too much and too far. They shut down too. Coincidence? I think not.
Something’s straining at the seams right now, and it’s us. Web workers. A frantic paced life to make everything come together under the Internet standards of time is going to kill us all.
I appreciate something that you said very much, and I know it’s a Life Coaching technique. Revisit that moment when life just went on without you. Know that it’s okay. Keep thinking of that. Otherwise, it’s too easy to fall back into bad habits.
I’ll be watching what you’ll be posting about next, Dave.
Thank you.
That’s all. I really needed this.
Naomi Dunford’s last blog post..How To Suck At Affiliate Marketing
The only reason I’m mellow at the moment (thank goodness) is that I just came back from a 2 week break. The only reason I work is *so* I can do this (and well…to pay rent). I’m a big supporter of ‘time for a vacation’.
I told my blog audience I was going. Said I might post while away. I didn’t. Barely scanned the email too. I shut off my brain and loved every minute of it. All was well in world when I returned.
Do it people…take that break, no one’s gonna die.
Karen JL’s last blog post..I’m Back in Black…the Vacation Wrap-Up
Holidays always do the trick…Books and watching lots of television also helps me…Missed your posts…Glad you are back now.
Sandy Naidu’s last blog post..Unique Aromatherapy Gifts For Babies And Mums – Meet Catherine Cervasio Of Aromababy
I guess we all want to think we’re indispensable and that the world would come to a screeching halt if we were to disappear for a week or two. Nobody is indispensable, and really being able to accept that is actually quite liberating.
Marelisa’s last blog post..How to Become a Renaissance Man/Woman
Not only will the world continue without us, it will be a better place once we return, refreshed.
This doesn’t just happen for web workers, it happens anywhere when folks can set their own schedules. But I think it might be worse for web workers (not being one right now, I can choose when / when not to play with my blog) – if you’re doing what you love, it is so easy to just keep on doing it.
I see it all the time at work with the management types. They are always “in the zone” and they are doing what they love (personally, that doesn’t interest me – and that’s why I’m not a manager…) – and you see them sitting there with the Crackberry, vibrating…
Bamboo Forest said something very clever at Men with Pens today that bears repeating here:
“Life is about balance. And the only person who can draw the line is the individual. If the world draws your own lines – you are in trouble.”
The sun will come up tomorrow, with or without us.
Once we realize that, we are free.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..one at a time.
Dave – Glad to have you back.
When I first entered the corporate world, I thought things would melt down anytime a key person left or was let go. Sure enough though, the show always went on. It wasn’t long before I realized that most companies can survive without any single person. It’s kind of comforting.
Granted, for a small business it may not work out quite as well, but the fact remains – the world won’t end if you take a break.
This is a great (and well timed) post. Thanks for the reminder that running on empty doesn’t help you in the long run.
[...] Dave Navarro asked, Would the World Stop if You Did? [...]
Mark me down on the mellow side. Unplugging last month was the best thing I have done in years.I brought back a deeper level of creativity and fresh ideas. I said then I don’t want to forget what it feels like and I meant it. I have made a commitment to myself that I am going to do it as part of my schedule and take planned breaks. My next one will be coming up in august. I think having them planned and on the calendar will help me to keep the blog well cared for but also let me have the time I need to unwind.
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..Loving Laughter
Dave,
Commented this morning, the ether ate it. Take two.
Great post, of course. I think it’s an ego thing. Inside us all there’s a three year old who still believes he has the power to make the world go ’round, and it’s tough to convince him that we’re really not in charge.
It’s humbling to think that most of what I do in a week could either not happen at all, or be done by a reasonably well-trained monkey, and no one would die of it. But it’s the truth.
Sometimes I resent knowing that I’m not ultra-necessary to world order. That aha! moment hurt me, but it’s also a big relief, as several people mentioned. So I relax. The weight of the world is not on my shoulders, and whatever is on my shoulders, I put there, or allowed someone else to. We have a lot more choice than people sometimes acknowledge.
“So often times it happens
That we live our lives in chains
And we never even know we have the key.”
—The Eagles
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..6 Signs That Mean Your Business Is Going to Have to Try Harder
I still like this post, it has legs. Another thought, to add to the discussion – still I agree, the world will continue without us.
But without each and every one of us, the world is a lesser place. Though things would continue, any of us would be sadly missed.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..draw your own line.
Brett,
Oh, that is so true. The It’s a Wonderful Life thing. It’s not that we wouldn’t be missed *and greatly,* just that we shouldn’t believe we have to be chained to a grindstone to make people pay us/ like-or-love us/ miss us. The grindstone is a choice; letting it go a bit is choosing sanity.
Until later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..6 Signs That Mean Your Business Is Going to Have to Try Harder
@James –
I think this will be a good series. We’re all under a lot of pressure, and need confirmation that we’re not alone – and that everyone else doesn’t necessarily have it “all under control.”
@Naomi –
So did I, sister, so did I.
@Karen –
Glad you had a break!
@Sandy –
Glad to be back.
@Marelisa -
It’s easy to get caught up and overestimate our importance (hey don’t get me wrong, we’re important, though!)
@Brett –
I like that quote. Will definitely feature it in the series.
@David
I see the same thing at work. Someone leaves, life goes on … it may take some effort, but it goes on.
@Wendi –
Niiiiiiiiice.
@Kelly –
Glad you gave it another swing. I *always* do a CTRL-C before posting b/c I’ve been burned before.
I am totally stealing that lyric for an upcoming post …
@Brett –
Legs, indeed! Just because the world doesn’t end without you for a bit doesn’t mean it doesn’t need you
Dave,
Missed you but glad you got some time to chill.
Necessary down time. Do you know there are people who make a living as leisure time activity therapists? Yes. I met one. Well, let’s say a very wise man introduced me to one. Creative people are working even when we are not working. I had to put things in to make sure I did not go all out 24/7.
At one point I practiced celebrating Monday. Usually around 5 pm at the Columns on St. Charles. On the veranda out front you can sip a cool beverage and watch the streetcars and traffic go by. Let ideas sift. Meet a friend there. Just change the way my week felt. It worked for me. I usually organize on Monday, do all the non studio stuff. The temptation for me is to get right on it the map, the things I had organized. I had to learn to take time out. It would still be there on Tuesday. And I would be rested from sipping, and watching, maybe getting in to a little mischief with a friend.
Not globally brilliant, but sometimes it is a small tweak that make a difference.
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..Uh Oh, It’s Getting A Little Whacky
Dave:
You are writing the story of my life – except you have the answers! Or, at least the ones I think are going to be helpful to me. You are right on point – and, if you’re on point when you feel like it, that’s A-OK with me. Keep on writing – your thoughts are valuable to a lot of us.
Hey Dave,
It’s important (I think) to point out that there are different types of burn out that writers experience. Mental fatigue is certainly one, and that’s the one you are focusing on here.
One other type is creative burn out. You can only go to the well so many times before it starts drying up. This is in some ways even more frustrating — you want to work, but the damn Muse is sitting on your shoulder with her feet up.
I’m not talking about writer’s block here either, I’m talking about writing those 25 500-word articles in 72 hours kind of burn out. You try to write that 26th one, and your bucket is scraping rocks at the bottom searching for the right words (and, apparently, mixing your metaphors in a right frightful way)…
What’s the cure? Loud music, maybe a good movie, and certainly sending out some invoices. And definitely time away. It may be cliché, but time heals all wounds.
Happy Friday everyone!
~Graham
Graham Strong’s last blog post..Do Blogs Work?
[...] quick Google search on “life balance” will give you no less than 25 million results. Clearly, we’re all feeling the strain – and it’s more than likely we’ve all felt the frustration of trying to “get our [...]
[...] When the weekend comes, most people are (understandably) tempted to just “check out” and take their well-deserved escape from the daily grind. Weekends are commonly viewed more as a vacation than as the valuable resource they are, so many people halt all thoughts of work and just make plans to enjoy themselves. (And there’s nothing wrong with that. God knows we all need some time off to recharge and avoid burnout.) [...]