One thing I’ve learned is the busier I get (even with “good stuff”), the first thing that gets tossed out of the schedule is fun-time. And the funny thing is — the minute it gets tossed the more I yearn for it on some level. And, the less fun I’m having, the more things seem like work and the less creative and productive I become. A self-fullfilling prophecy toward burnout and stress.

Fun is far more powerful than you might think!

If you think back to growing up, most of us received the message that we had to get all our homework (and any chores) done BEFORE we could go out and play. While that may have been our parents way of teaching us priorities and discipline back then, many of us, especially women, have taken it on as a means to be hard on ourselves as high-achieving adults. Let’s face it - the chores and to-do list will NEVER be done. Not until we draw our last breath. So, for goodness sake - take some time soon for some fun, you won’t regret it. No one ever sat on their death bed wishing they spent more time at the office or doing chores.

Recently I was getting my haircut and my fabulous stylist (if you’re near Philadelphia, you MUST check Vicchi out at V-Salon) was telling me a story about how much fun she recently had just hanging out with friends at a cafe and going to a concert. I thought, that sounds wonderful and it seems so long since I’ve had the time to do just that sort of thing. She said — you have to make time for it — it’ll really get you juiced up!

You know, she’s absolutely right! Fun is the way to infuse ourselves with more juice! Haven’t you ever spent time partaking in a hobby or even just breaking routine and going for a leisurely lunch with an upbeat friend and then felt oh so energized? Then, you went back to work and the creative juices just flowed and work felt effortless and inspiring?

Now contrast that to a time when you’ve drudged on for hours or days at work feeling you just couldn’t afford to take the time for fun, a break, or to just get away for a bit. How productive were you then? Did it seem to take forever and a day to get through the task at hand? Did you do your best work?

It is not just a coincidence that one scenario leaves you thriving and the other one leaves you dying on the vine.

So - take this quick self-assessment:

• When was the last time you just had fun?

If you have to think about the answer too long — it has been too long.

• Do you have a hobby that you regularly pursue that allows you to get in the flow where time just flies by?

Again, if you have to think too long, or the answer is no, you really need to get a hobby ASAP. It doesn’t have to be complicated, it doesn’t have to be expensive, it simply has to be something you enjoy doing (and it can’t be something you think you “should” be doing).

So, this weekend - start living a new mantra - “I brake for FUN” and start peppering a little fun here and there throughout each day of the week. Then, notice if you’re not being more productive, effective, and happy.

Not sure how to choose a hobby or how to carve out some fun-time? Leave me a comment below….. and we’ll get a dialog going.

I just returned this week from my first Olivia Vacation, the Western Caribbean Cruise. This was my virginal voyage with the company renown for delivering extraordinary vacations to lesbian women.

I had high expectations (and goodness knows I can be tough to please) and they not only met but far exceeded them. Here’s just a few reasons why:

• The company walks its talk from the top down and it shows in all they do. (I’ll talk about this much more in an upcoming post)
• High standards of excellence. From their choices of ship to ports of call to entertainment, it is only the best for the ladies of Olivia.
• They create an atmosphere where you feel like you truly matter and are cared for. The number and helpfulness of the support staff is refreshing in a day and age where “the customer comes first” are often empty and hollow words. To feel personally attended to in a crowd of 1850 guests is an art form.
• Enthusiasm and energy. Where else do people hoot and holler and cheer the trip director and staff just because they walked on stage and said good morning or good evening? The positive vibes from all aboard are so strong that a girl used to the cynicism and apathy of life in the ‘burbs of Pennsylvania could easily get overwhelmed initially.
• A safe space. From pre-sail to disembarkation you inhabit a safe, accepting, and diverse space that is hard to find anywhere. Think of the best women’s festival you’ve ever attended and then double it.
• Variety. I thought I’d be bored on a cruise or that I wouldn’t enjoy it because I am not an outgoing partying type or social butterfly. The variety of activities and opportunities to participate in or just get away from it all in a quiet corner made it possible to do your own thing at any time of the day or night. And, with the exception of a few of the “special parties” on the deck or lounge, the place never seemed overcrowded.

Now a lot of people I know shake their heads and say that they could vacation cheaper doing it on their own. Maybe, but in this case you truly get what you pay for — unsurpassed excellence and an experience you just can’t find elsewhere. I will definitely do it again — the only question is should I cruise? go to a resort? take an active vacation? Hmmmm, so many choices!

I don’t get any perks or benefits from recommending them, I just feel strongly about my positive experience. So, check out their website at Olivia.com and if you’re so inspired as to book a vacation, tell them I sent you!

If the technology gods have cooperated with me, you will be reading this post while I am floating on a cruise ship in the Western Caribbean.  You see, I used the “future posting date” feature of Wordpress to write this article before I left.

I believe R&R is a lifeblood, not a luxury.  And, when I go away on vacation, I go away and disconnect entirely, and don’t want to have anything to do with my PC, cell phone, or other obligations.  I think it is crucial to disconnect in this way in order to avoid burnout and foster creativity and effectiveness, not to mention the benefits I accrue in being able to be 100% present with my partner away from the madness of day to day chores and routines.

That’s why I am a big fan of systems. By systems I mean technology, process, or any sort of support you can count on to get something done (people, machine, or otherwise).  Every successful business needs them and the woman entrepreneur and small business owner needs them even more.  The truth is that you can’t be everything to everyone and you can’t be “on call” 24/7.  If you think you can, you are on the road to burnout, exhaustion, and general misery (if not disease).  That’s where systems come in. People or things that can handle matters when you are not able to.

For example, remember life before voicemail?  The endless phone tag and yellow message pad “While You Were Out” notes?  Well, voicemail is a system we use for communicating with others when we can’t be there to pick up the phone. It simply makes things easier (assuming we know how to set boundaries around how often we check voicemail).

And, systems are not limited to our business lives.  To thrive in your personal life you also need systems.  Let me ask you, do you have a routine for getting ready in the morning or preparing for bed at night?  If so, that is a system. While it does require your involvement, it is a way of doing things to ensure successful and repeatable results (you are groomed and out the door to start the day and are not missing something crucial like your pants or shirt, for instance).  Another system might be a cleaning or lawn service to handle those chores so you don’t have to.

Take moment today and make a list of 5-10 systems you currently have in your life or business that serve you well?  What are 3 systems that are lacking that you could put in place in the next 2 weeks to make your life easier and ultimately make you more successful?
 

Rest & Relaxation (R & R) is not just a luxury for the well-to-do. It is essential to our well-being and is truly not optional. It is the lifeblood that keeps us sharp mentally and physically while giving our creative juices time to rejuvenate.

When I say R & R, what picture or words come to mind? Do you see R & R only as being a lavish vacation or available only to the “ladies who lunch”? Do you hear some authority figure yelling at you that you’re lazy, unproductive, and will never amount to anything? Do you simply see your to-do list growing if you even contemplate “relaxing”?

Read More of this article I wrote as part of my Beyond Burnout monthly eZine.

Like what you’re reading?  Subscribe to my Beyond Burnout monthly eZine for free at my website.

As high achieving women, we seem to have a plan for everything — the business, the weekend, the vacation, the career, and our social calendar.  Do you have a plan for renewing and restoring your body? Top notch car racers have a pit crew. Who makes up your body wellness pit crew?
 
Most of us only pay attention to our bodies when something is wrong. Then we go to the doctor, drug store, or maybe even the holistic practitioner to cure what ails us.  Then it is back to the grind until something else in our system “complains”.

The way I see it is our bodies need preventative maintenance and tuning as much as (if not moreso) than our cars.  It is impossible to live our best life and be optimally effective if our bodies are out of whack.  My absolutely favorite piece of my personal plan is regular bodywork by an experienced practitioner.  For me that takes the form of a cornucopia of modalities (types of) massage and energy work several times a month. “Luxury” you say?  I find it a crucial ingredient to allow me to be my best.

I have found the benefits to be exponentially greater than the cost.  Some of the results I have personally experienced include:

• Less stress
• Reduced muscle tension
• More energy
• Injury prevention
• Faster recovery from injury
• Less illness
• More balanced emotions
• Overall better feeling inhabiting my body

A recent study an article showed that as a whole Americans were more stressed in 2005 than 2004. And we all know being stressed out leads to burnout and diminishing results and enjoyment in both our professional and personal lives. You can read the full article here.

If you want to learn more about massage or find a certified practitioner you can visit the American Massage Therapy Association website.

Maybe massage is not your cup of tea. That’s ok. Simply ask yourself: “What other types of systems would I like to create to take care of my body?”  Write down the answers and start scheduling the activities in regularly.

Don’t let the vehicle of your dreams (your body) breakdown due to neglect. Take some time to create a business plan for your body.