The most effective recipe for productivity in my business, by far is......

ironically, to withdraw and STOP DOING the day to day tasks that go with my business.

No, not for a long time, but for at least one day a month, I go on personal retreat. I have written of this before, only this month I took my personal reteat day to a higher level!

I decided to actually spend a night away from my home office and treat myself to a stay at a Bed and Breakfast about an hour from Bakersfield (yet worlds away.)

I loaded two boxes filled with work stuff into my van and drove the windy road out of the Valley and into the hills.....the plan was to get away from the Day to Day and do some concrete planning and creative work.

I arrived at the Bed and Breakfast I had located online and immediately stepped into heaven! It smelled great, my room overlooked the Kern river, I had a fireplace.....an AWESOME bathtub....and I spent a few moments in quiet before diving into work!

I was romancing myself,and my vision for my business. Reminding myself why I do what I do, and planning how to get from Point A to Point B. For me, the most pressing goal is to create some products to support my coaching so when I am taking some time to give birth and then nurture full time for a few months (due in May).

Friday night I slept with my sliding glass door wide open so I could hear the river gurgling all night long. When I woke at 5:30 AM, I shut the door and turned on my fireplace....waited and smiled, contentedly, for the sun to come up so I could walk by the river, sit on a rock and create.

Magnificent! I did not even feel weird being the only sole diner at Breakfast...seems most people are romancing other people at Bed and Breakfast's on the weekend! :-)

Next time!

I highly recommend taking a retreat on a regular basis. It will definitely reawaken your love for your business (if you need that) or at least fire up your creativity. There is nothing like setting aside some intentional time to get everything lined up before taking a running leap into your next quarter, year, month, sales campaign.....

With Purpose and Passion,

JULIE


Dare to Discover Your Passion, Decide to Live Your Destiny!

Julie, that's a great idea!

I agree with you, we all need to take time sometimes just to get away from everything "clouding" our lives....

Otherwise, it can "cloud" our goals. I know some people do this for a lifetime.... They're not following their life goals, because they don't take the time off to think about what those goals are....

Even one day a month can help....

I sometimes also do some meditation, there are different forms of meditation, and the form I like to do is "letting go" of things.... I let whatever images and concerns come into my mind, then with my imagination I watch those images and concerns drift away into the sky and into space, while I let go of them....

I find it very peaceful, and it clears my mind to think about the real issues which are important to me....

It sounds like it's a trivial issue, but it's not really. Since taking some time off on a regular basis can keep your life goals clear and in focus....

Otherwise, you just don't have time to even give a moment's thought to your goals, and before you know it you haven't achieved any of the things you were planning to....

Thanks Julie.... That's great advice!

Sounds like it was a great B&B too! :)

I love being immersed in nature.... Hmmmm.... Makes me think, I haven't taken any walks in national parks lately.... Where I am now is not too far from a couple nice national parks (around 45 minutes drive away).... I think some time in the next few days I'll drive over and spend half a day strolling around.... :)

Dien Rice

I read the posts and realized that the concept of "getting away" is one that must be practiced regardless of the "where".

I have a friend who says he takes one day a week to "get away" and so I went with him. In that day his thoughts and actions remained firmly centered on the rest of his week. He hadn't really gotten away... he just moved the location.

I have found that while it's a joy and pleasure to change my surroundings it is how I think that really needs the Rest and Re-Creation.

In Julie's post, the change in location was accompanied by the time to open up, Be Aware and take in her world. That is the whole of it.




Learn how to live on Purpose.

Hi Rob!

I also routinely take Wednesdays as my sacred days for "getting away"....to Bible Study in the morning followed by creating an afternoon based in whatever I determine that day.

It might be spending an afternoon at the movies, or in my daughter's classroom, or sitting in a coffee house in creative conversation with a close friend or fleshing out my business plan.

Intentional, deliberate, centered and focused above all.

Thanks for writing, Rob!

With Purpose and Passion,

JULIE




Dare to Discover Your Passion, Decide to Live Your Destiny!