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How do you rest your brain?

How do you guys switch off?I am constantly thinking about work. Be it looking at someone's lawn as we drive past, wondering when I can fix one of my mowers, reading LJN posts, thinking about finance and the future etc.These are all things going through my mind during the day obviously, but also when I am at home, or with my wife or lying in bed. I even dream about work frequently.I do partially switch off if, on the rare occasion, we go to the cinema. But as soon as we come out I'm looking at the grounds, surrounding shrubs, thinking about gritting etc.Do you ever switch off completely? If so, how?

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  • Haha I can relate to that Darren - I guess it's the difference between running your own operation and being an employee. I find it hard to switch off too, I prefer to think that I am always either 'doing' or 'selling' services. My only time off mentally is kids and partner time when I do switch to standby mode, but even then I bore them with my exploits!

  • Yes Darren, as Andy says it really is a symptom of bieng self employed/the boss of your own firm, because the buck stops with you! As time has progressed i have found that family time and or literally forcing yourself to go away for the weekend/go to cinema/paintballing/fishing/other interests can help, just to physically remove you out of your "work zone". It was at its worst when i first started out, as i needed the money and when panicing about making enough during the growing season. Now im settled in what my earning potential is (without having a heart attack), so im a lot more chilled out than i was even a couple of years ago. In short for me its a mindset.

  • PRO

    Being strong with yourself about what hours you are going work, setting up specific times/hours after work for admin/quotes/repairs etc, ensuring you set expectations about accepting and returning phone calls ( ie no calls after 8pm, return with 24 hrs ) starts to help.

    I find having a method of 'dumping' ideas, to-do's etc into something (I use my iPad) so I capture bits I have to do and don't spend evening thinking....what was it I had to remember?

    Having outside interests and commitments and sticking to/by them. ie bike riding, golf etc to allow you switch off, reset your mind and have some sensible, out of work conversations. Otherwise, it's all work & family and that can burn you out.

    One thing I can remember from years ago, it can be lonely job if you've no business partner or work colleagues..I find having some great guys with me, means I can rest easier that the day to day business carries on while I'm doing other tasks.

    Finally, having some rewards set up - if I do x by y then z happens (maybe an afternoon off, taking partner out etc).

  • If you enjoy the job, there's no need to switch off from thinking about gardening: it's the business side that gets to you and causes stress. Being organised and getting the admin done and dusted is always good, but I'm rubbish at that....

    I never stop looking at other gardens for ideas, and often potter around in my own garden in the evenings. 20 minutes in the greenhouse with a beer isn't a bad way to unwind on a summers evening.

    As what I do all day is a hobby for most people, it's impossible to get away from. Does anyone else find, wherever you go, people ask for advice? My brother in law is a dentist, and I'd never ask for his advice over Sunday lunch, but as soon as we get there I'm taken on a tour of their garden so I can comment on everything!

    Is there any other profession where people assume you are always happy to talk work?

  • PRO
    Yes, I have thought about this recently. On my van, it says "evenings" by the landline (home) number and "anytime" by the mobile. Which was fine when I started out and only had 5 customers and the occasional enquiry, but not so good now we have 50+ customers and many enquiries.

    I don't really want to remove the landline number as I think just a mobile number gives the wrong perception to some of the older generation. But I might just peel of the evenings and anytime decals and change the message on the home answerphone



    Gary RK said:

    Being strong with yourself about what hours you are going work, setting up specific times/hours after work for admin/quotes/repairs etc, ensuring you set expectations about accepting and returning phone calls ( ie no calls after 8pm, return with 24 hrs ) starts to help.

  • I'm exactly the same.. and since I quit smoking a year ago its been a lot lot worse as I've used running my business as a way to break my smoking habit i seem to have adopted a new forever thinking about/working on my business mentality.

    it was a 7 day a week thing for me and my girlfriend was becoming extremely annoyed with my "tunnel vision" which meant things had to change. I do a lot of the things Gary stated, no admin work/phone calls after 7.30pm and 5pm on a saturday and these are strictly kept too.. other than the odd flutter on LJN etc. However now i try my hardest to switch off on sundays.. I go bike riding and snowboarding etc which is good for clearing my mind..

    In all honesty i don't think its a bad thing.. it show drive, enthusiasm and determination to make your business successful.. you just need to cap it where you can as judgement can soon become clouded.

  • PRO
    Using BT Call Sign feature on a single home line allows two numbers to be allocated with different ring tones. Years ago, I used that as a way of filtering calls in the evening.

    Darren Walters said:
    Yes, I have thought about this recently. On my van, it says "evenings" by the landline (home) number and "anytime" by the mobile. Which was fine when I started out and only had 5 customers and the occasional enquiry, but not so good now we have 50+ customers and many enquiries.

    I don't really want to remove the landline number as I think just a mobile number gives the wrong perception to some of the older generation. But I might just peel of the evenings and anytime decals and change the message on the home answerphone



    Gary RK said:

    Being strong with yourself about what hours you are going work, setting up specific times/hours after work for admin/quotes/repairs etc, ensuring you set expectations about accepting and returning phone calls ( ie no calls after 8pm, return with 24 hrs ) starts to help.

  • PRO

    BT Call Sign feature....

  • I've never given my home number out. Partly because my step kids were younger and would answer the home line, but it's never seemed a good idea to allow the clients that level of access to my private time.

    A second number with an answerphone is essential, or just the mobile. I don't think there's an issue with mobile numbers any more, an increasing number of people only have a mobile now.

  • I have a separate land line number for the office at home. it doesn't get answered outside of office hours, and nor does the mobile, unless its someone i specifically need to talk to.

    It is difficult to switch off as I do a fair amount of the quotes in the evening etc, but I still take time out between 4 and 7 to spend time with the family and sit down to dinner together and that time is absolutely sacred. I never have or never will give that time up for any customer. weekends are for the family or for tinkering around.
    I recently bought an old landrover and im slowly restoring it. its been a breath of fresh air as its something outside of what I normally do

    I still wake up at 3 in the morning tryng to work out how im going to deal with some particular detail on a job im doing. daft as I know ill be able to sort it when I get there, but that's the brain for you

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