Our businesses occupy a large percentage of our time, being self employed is a different world from being employed. With most employed work when you clock off you can go home and relax until the next morning.
Self employment, running your own business, means many hours outside of the actual working day spent on paperwork, purchasing, quoting, or even just thinking about everything. I've also spent a lot of dreamtime at work too!
I relish this about running a business, I love being consumed by it, I think we all do really because we come onto LJN to share our experiences and knowledge too.
Having said that I also think it's important to have interests outside of work. I am in the process of restoring a Hayter Osprey lawnmower
http://www.landscapejuicenetwork.com/forum/topics/latest-project?xg_source=activity
It's not that removed from the business but it's a different activity that takes my mind off of work. I like machines and engineering there is a very satisfying feeling from getting something working again, or fixing something on your own just by thinking about it and applying ideas.
Apart from this I have a keen interest in tattoos (as you can probably gather from my photo) I have a couple of friends that own a studio and I spend ages getting a design together then I go over and spend a few hours getting the tattoo done and generally having a laugh, It's a great process, every couple of months I get an urge for another one. Getting to that point again now actually.
I also enjoy driving, on a Sunday we usually go out as a family for the day and the best bit for me is always the drive. I like going out for meals with my fiancée when we have a night off from the kids, I have an interest in history and astronomy which I have had since I was a child, There is a 15" dobsonian telescope which is the size of a wardrobe which occupies one of my sheds and is awaiting a refurbishment.
A lot of my time is spent on my computer, I'm a bit of a geek really, I also enjoy reading too although this is usually done at bedtime and i end up falling asleep after a couple of pages so one book can take months for me to read, this also results in me getting told off by my other half nearly every night for falling asleep with the light on... she loves that!
So what do you do to take your mind off of work and let off steam?
Try not to make me feel guilty by telling me how fit you all are, going to the gym, jogging etc. I get enough exercise at work, In the evening a light stroll to the fridge for a beer or two is all I can muster!
Comments
Good post Andy! I agree our business is on our minds 24/7 and I feel guilty when we have Sundays off but I have realised we need it.
I love reading, fictional crime/thriller/horror are genres I read and spend a fortune on books and more recently on books for my Kindle. Like yourself I am quite heavily tattoo'd so enjoy meeting friends in the studio and planning my next inkings.
Mark spends his time shooting, pigeon/duck etc and we try to go fishing as much as we can. Nothing better than setting off to the lake district early for a full days carping!
Good one Andy,
and good to hear from you,too.
Me too nearly 24/7. Itry to do one day off at w.k but it usually does not work.
I enjoy my work as a lot f it is teaching customers or learning about new products and new online markets.
We recently all had a wondeful 10 days off hoilday in israel.
It was a more than 2 years since I was their with my daughters and wife. ( but I went onmy own once before) So we travled , few days onbeach, desert trip, dead sea, red sea .
Was wonderful , but the stress after that catching up with 10 days of orders was very hard work, but glad I got these orders.
Today for example I went with my daughters to a beautiful gardens at bridgemere garden centre.
As so far my work was from home and had a storage at a beautiful farm, I now hopin gto move the office out of home too.
I enjoy fishing but have not done any in last2 years.
, I love having guests and coocking a good meal once a while.
Thanks Yasmin, Nice to see another tattoo addict on here ;-)
Thank you Ofer, nice to hear from you again too.
Holidays are good but the catching up afterwards... not so good :-)
Hi Andy, good post.
In theory as I'm unemployed I just relax all the time - I wished.
I find it very difficult to switch off and relax from my voluntary work. I keep saying I need a job to get a break.
The nearest thing I get to relaxing is studying and not sure that it is that relaxing. The current course I'm doing is a level 4 preparing to teach in the lifelong learning services. But again it is related to the voluntary work.
On the bright side I am currently with Remploy to try and find work and they have a job come through with a training agency and they are going to put me up for it. Its an admin role but who knows what the future holds?
Our leisure time is spent looking after cats, ponies and sheep plus doing our own garden. We like eating out also (Sunday lunch a favourite!) and yesterday had a trip out to Cosford airshow.
Due to caring for elderly relatives holidays are impossible but we do like to pinch the odd afternoon off - just because we feel like it! Good morale booster and no backlog to worry about and we never ever work Sunday's now - we don't even do quotes or fetch materials on a Sunday.
I have always found it very difficult to switch off. I also panic if there doesn't seem to be much in the diary and convince myself certain destitution will soon follow.....
I love your blogs Andy (both of them).
I find it hard to switch off as horticulture, wildlife and conservation are all loves of mine. On an evening i play with my son for half an hour, have tea, do my invoices and come on LJN. Then it is bed time - i'm asleep before my head hits the pillow.
I play drums when i get any spare time. I've been in bands since i was eighteen but having a break from it at the moment.
Hello dgeorgea, It doesn't matter whether its paid work or voluntary. It's still work, You are an inspiration to us all with all the effort you put in to your community.
Hello Rowly, I know what you mean, I don't like not being at work, Sundays are a pain in the arse if I've not been allotted diy by the other half or we haven't gone out somewhere, I start yawning in front of the telly and i basically feel like crap. I don't think my body is used to doing nothing.
Hello Brigitt,
Love your comment, I bet you carry a lot of sunshine ;-) you ought to bring some over here really :-)
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