What are you doing for you? And when was the last time you took a break to, at least figuratively, smell the roses?

Being a passionate entrepreneur is a wonderful thing to be – you are always on the go, full of new ideas, likely to wake at 2am for a quiet brainstorm session with your, ummm, brain, and then up early to meet each new day with drive and purpose.

However, if there is no, or very little, ‘Me Time’ in your equation, it’s time to rethink. Because regardless of how much energy you have and how focussed you are on growing your awesome business, all work and no play is a recipe for failure.

Why? Well, a few reasons:

1.  You are not a machine and the pace you have set, while incredibly exciting to watch, will be impossible to sustain. I don’t want you to slow down, but I do want you to have some ‘down time’. A little down time is proven to be very good for your productivity. In fact, as little as 15 minutes time out, just walking around the block and clearing your head, will improve your overall performance by 23%. So, if nothing else, think of your ‘Me Time’ as a productivity tool.

2.  You’re an individual who, prior to starting your business or your family or career, had interests and passions that you loved to pursue. Why would you want to close yourself off from these passions just because you have a new passion thrown into the mix? Reconnect with your hobbies, make sure you get lots of exercise, and touch base with friends and family. It’s good for the soul.

3.  You do need to put yourself first from time to time. If you aren’t happy, healthy and able to operate at 100%, then your business will suffer.

The best way to ensure that ‘Me Time’ happens is to schedule it into your diary. Block out chunks of time multiple times across the week and, just like an appointment with your most valued client, make sure you turn up.

Enjoy your ‘Me Time’.