Do you take enough breaks?

Do you get enough downtime?

I had a big scare at the end of last year. Now I’m building in more downtime.

I got to Christmas last year basically running on fumes.

It’s not always easy being a self-employed freelancer. Bills must be paid. If my clients hadn’t stopped ordering training for a couple of weeks, I would have worked right through. That however is not a sustainable lifestyle approach. I don’t want to be the richest one in the graveyard.

I was mentally and physically exhausted but was either missing the signs or choosing to ignore them. Hindsight is a wonderful thing of course but, looking back, the signs were clear.

There are always signs. Do you know your signs? Ignore them at your peril.

I got away lucky this time. My body made some good decisions for me. All my plans for holiday projects were ignored and I stopped and recharged.

I dodged a crash this time, but it was more luck than judgement.

I won’t make the same mistakes twice.

Build in some downtime. Build in some fun. Get a life.

All the best to you and yours

Andrew D Pope