Do This One Thing To Invite Balance In Your Life

Dear Tanja,

I am a solopreneur and do not take time off. I can’t get myself to turn down a client. I need a break but feel fortunate to have work offers. Before I know it, every single day of the month is booked, and in between appointments, I’m running the business. What advice do you have to get out of this cycle? I know it is not sustainable. 

I know many people, entrepreneurs or not, will feel this. Taking time off can be difficult to prioritize. Thank you for asking (and congrats on your success!).

We are used to hearing work hard, play hard, but I’ve started advocating for work hard, rest hard. Working hard comes easily, especially when you are fully booked- it’s the dream, right?! The rest part is going to take some effort and commitment. The number one reason we don’t take time off is because we don’t schedule time off. So here is one thing you can and should do to invite balance in your life:

Block the time off in advance.

It sounds easy enough, right? But it is a simple and often overlooked step that prevents us from taking time off.

Take a moment to consider what a feasible amount of time off can look like. When you are running your own business, the options are endless. Do you want to limit the hours you work each day? Take weekends off? Take one week per month off?

Once you decide, commit to this time by blocking it off in your calendar. When a client contacts you, it is much easier to identify at the moment that you are unavailable and suggest 2-3 alternative times. And guess what? A client won’t even ask why you are unavailable. They will likely appreciate that you offered a few other times. The bonus is that everyone wins because when you are taking time for yourself to rest and recharge, you will show up to meet your client's needs in a better capacity. 

You deserve this. Everyone deserves time to rest and recover. 

So what happens if you are offered a one-time speaking opportunity on a blocked-off date? Well, you get to decide! It would be reasonable to take the gig if it’s aligned with your goals and will support you. Maybe you book it, but replace that day with another day off. It’s all about getting in the habit of prioritizing your well-being.

It is up to you to take time off. Planning for that time to happen is the first step! If you want to take this further, go through your 2025 calendar and block off as much as you can in advance- your vacation time, holidays, family visits, etc. If it’s not on the calendar, it’s too easy to brush it off or overbook yourself. Remember, it's not set in stone. You can be flexible with this and make changes as needed.

What would you add? What will you try? Leave a comment. Let’s keep working together to keep the office vibes up! 

P.S.- Taking time off can feel overwhelming, especially when you are not used to it. I recorded a short meditation for InsightTimer to provide grounding and encouragement to embrace a morning off. Listen here!