Time Off
I get asked a lot about time off and how I manage to take so much of it to play.
Many years ago one of my mentors taught me that the human body is like a multi-billion dollar racehorse. If you owned that horse, how much time off would you give it in between races?
The answer seems simple enough, but somehow we get caught up in the stress of day-to-day life and we forget to rest. And I mean really rest!
I know that putting in 18-hour days is not uncommon for me because I love what I do. I am sure that you also just go, go, go… all the time between work, parenting, friends, exercise, problems, etc.
One of the best practices that I took on many years ago is what I call my six weeks on, one week off routines. Here’s how it goes… I play full out for six weeks, then full off for one week.
This gives me the chance to really unwind and do zip, nada, nothing. I get a chance to totally rejuvenate, and what I’ve found is that I am so ready to get back to creation once I am truly rested, that I am ten times more productive.
I used to feel that if “I just push a little longer, I’ll get more done”, but the truth is that the quality of my work was not up to my highest standard.
As a matter of fact, I’ve been working seven days a week now for weeks, preparing for my TV and radio tour and I’m feeling very overwhelmed with the loads of stuff that need to get done.
So guess what I’m going to do right now? I’m going to go to the gym and NOT think about all that I have to do and I’m going to give myself a mental break even though I have piles of “stuff” that have to get done.
I’m going to get out of the “I’m supposed to do this now” thinking and give myself a mental break.
What is your release mechanism and plan for rejuvenating your body and soul?
We all need to take care of ourselves. And creating a regular system is the best way to refresh ourselves.
I’ve also gotten into the habit of having a two-hour massage once a week, and it allows me to have someone “do” for me instead of me always being the one who “does”.
Choose an activity or ritual and create a plan that allows you to really get the physical and mental rest you need. You’ll find that you’ll reduce stress and be much more productive than ever before!
And while you’re at it, remember to create a great day!
John
great insight, we all need to be more mindful of our bodies and respectful of the healing process called rejuvination, that our bodies require, as much as water.
Great food for thought.
Thanks, Diane
dear John,
just a little comment on your blog, I am a man and wil be 56 this year, almost 30 year I program myself every day before i am go in to sleep, that when I wake up the next morning i will be more healthy than before i go to sleep, that my soul who I am realy will teach my mind to creat new cells for my body. So I think that for 30 years , I was utilising the law of manifesting on concious, but after seen The Secret, it gived to me a lot of confirmation on what I all ready now but dint realize how to use it in practice, The Secret give me all answeer i needed it. thanks guys.
All the respect and the best for you all,
roberto
I like that 6 weeks and one week off. I have been thinking about playing full out no holds barred. But, I see your point and I believe it is valid and will adopt it for myself. Thanks
John, when you take time off what allows you to stop thinking about what you need to do and totally relax?
You are so right! You have to take that time for yourself. If you don’t take that time, eventually it leads to anger and depression. Thanks for the reminder.
Working for yourself does have advantages for sure. Three weeks off per year with my 60-70 hour per week “job” sounds like it is greatly lacking!
Looks like creating a change is in order because that is really sounding like what I am desiring about now!
Thanks!!!
WoW, John, this is so simple and so Powerful, Thank u for being there to remind us all. Boy oh Boy, did i need to read this. this is where i am in my life, now if i can just Practice having FUN for more than 1 hour…..THANX
I don’t know where to post this question. But I will take a chance and anchor it under this topic.
John taught us the law of Polarity.
Here is my questtion:
If I see a stock whose price has dipped down, can we apply the law of Polarity and say for sure that someday, this stocks price will go up ?
Am I making sense in using the law of Polarity ?
a little subject change but what’s the best way to deal with DOUBT? thanks!
I really like John’s reminders of taking care of ourselves. Especially that one week off doing nothing! On a daily basis, what I find helps me, is meditation breaks. Since I have a home office, when I get overwhelmed, I take a ten minute time out to “empty” my mind. It’s like waking up and starting a new day. I call it “mini” daily vacations, where I travel and visit “the Universe.” I also practice what Roberto does – every morning is a new beginning and a new me!
Jill, I don’t know what John would say, but could the “doubt” be an intuitive warning sign (not knowing the scenario you are applying this to)or if it’s a matter of lack of self confidence, which I experience a lot. I play my pretend game, and imagine the way I want to be, and just pretend it IS the scenario I made up. When I first gave presentations to large groups and had huge stage fright, I would “pretend” I was Whoopi Goldberg. LOL! After awhile, I got more comfortable and became myself again..Isn’t life considered a stage, and we are the actors, producers and directors? But then again, psychologists would interpret all this by labeling us with lots of different neurosis’
Thanks Starduster!
That was a very nice reminder of something I have known but not adhered to! I find myself in overdrive for hours at a time without a moment’s break and realize when I have completed my task that a few minutes of quiet time in between would have produced better results with far less stress.
I shall make it my powerful intention to commit to more mini-meditations throughout each day and look forward to wonderful results.
With gratitude,
Dean
I am going to join local yoga group, that also has drumming and meditation circles. The fatigue I have felt from being in overdrive a lot of years has taken over.
John, thank you so much for the invitation you sent to me. It’s my pleasure to be a part on your blog site. Thank you for the inspiration every single day.
This is the first thread I’ve looked at since registering. This is awesome. Right now my partner and I are looking at completely changing our lives (moving to a new state, new jobs aimed towards helping us fund a new business etc). This new blog couldn’t have happened at a better time. I look forward to conversing with everyone here
I Now Completely Understand This Powerful Message.
I’ve just been reading “Count Your Blessings” By John DeMartini and Your Message of rest reinforces what I’ve been studying…
To Have Love For Your Whole Self.
( Time Out )
and For Confirming This Message John, I Sincerely Thank You.
I look forward to more! And To Give Back With Thought Energy
Best Wishes.
What a great reminder and great advice for those of us who have our own business!! I would like to reiterate Chris Shouse’s ? :
John, when you take time off what allows you to stop thinking about what you need to do and totally relax?
I guess emptying your mind or meditation helps – I have been using Holosync(sp?) for the last month and it has helped immensely!
Thank you for the reminder to value our spirit and our bodies!
I look forward to talking and reading more!
I happen to be in my hotel room looking the Acropolis in Greece and as I read these threads I get so much joy knowing people are reading, responding and reflecting on their wonderful lives!
As a senior who has jumped the fence, that seperates tradition from what I realy want to do regardless of age, (thank you DESIRE within) I delight in reading people’s common sense of taking time for them selves….now! You will be glad you did rather than following a time table and schedule that others made for you that does not allow ‘fun’, ‘love’ and ‘peace’.
Dean, Thank you (!) for thanking me. I appreciate your feedback. The mini-meditations during the day, really help when I have perceived disappointments, and my ego is beating me up. When my mind is “clear”… Serendipitious events happen more frequently! I was astonished at the end of one of Robert Kiyosaki’s Seminars on business…HE said “Success” is 99% SPIRITUAL. He said the deal of the century passes us by everyday, but we need to be in a “place” to see it….
Yvonne
This is such a great article, Mr. Assaraf because there are so many people that don’t believe in time off. I have worked for so many companies where the morale is “work until you drop, and when you do, someone else will pick up where you left off.”
Often, in these situations, I felt guilty for taking random time off, often when I (and my poor body especially) really needed it. In other instances that are non work related, I have came in contact with people that have been so brazen to say…what makes you think you deserve time off? I also know people that believe that you have to work yourself to the bone and if you don’t then you must have a problem, but I learned that there is a better way. So, thank you so much for this wonderful and insightful article!!!
Isn,t wonderful, when you do take time to just readjust, I do, three times a week.
[...] John Assaraf touched on it in his post on “what hourly rate you must make” to reach your financial goals, and then again when he laid out his “work schedule for success“. [...]
I’ll forward this post to my boss. Maybe, if I’m lucky, they’ll up the number of vacation days I get to 11…