How Not To Suck At Downtime

As we dive-bomb into August, I’ll be pausing these weekly thought pieces.

Stay tuned for September: I’m working on a content revamp, co-hosting a brand spanking new podcast AND fine-tuning the next ConsultantBrand experience.

If you’re thinking about enrolling, mark your calendar to start the virtual workshop on September 22.

If your first thought on reading this title is “downtime, I have no downtime”—you REALLY need this.

For the record, downtime is when you’re not (consciously) thinking about or working on your business.

It’s sleeping, it’s playing with your kids, it’s indulging in your hobbies or maybe even a little personal pampering.

It’s being in the moment enjoying some of that freedom you promised yourself when you started your business. You remember that, right—your own firm, where YOU are the boss?

It’s more than treating yourself to a swanky vacation now and then. It’s about giving your mind and your body a chance to rest and refresh, to hit the reset button.

Do you suck at downtime right now? Part of the blame just might be your wiring as an entrepreneur—which tends to pile on the guilt when you’re not100% on-mission.

You are so not alone.

I like Ramit Sethi’s take on this in his “Productivity Advice For The Weird” piece where he talks about building the fundamentals—like getting enough sleep— and a personal psychology into your productivity plan. Think setting clear boundaries—no matter how weird—to make your work and your life, well, work.

Let’s hear it for the weird!

Because no two people I’ve ever met define downtime quite the same way.

One mom I know swears the drive time chauffeuring a chatty pack of teenagers is when the best ideas pop into her head. Seriously? Hey it works for her…

Or there’s the client who hops on his Harley to focus on the road instead of the million tiny voices telling him what he SHOULD do.

My after-the-day-is-mostly-done downtime is making dinner. Yep, Ramit and I part company there because—for me—cooking is a creative act (and I shop the Farmer’s Market and stores before the week begins so it’s all creation, no stress).

Taking enough downtime—and not sucking at it—is essential if you want to be your best, smart, connected, creative, HUMAN self.

I’m off to do exactly that and I hope you will too.

Moulton out.