Time Well Spent: Why Taking a Break is the Best Business Move You'll Make Today

By Tricia Scott.

Monday again already; how did that happen? I always feel like this after a week(ish) away from the office. The first few days seem to stretch on at a leisurely pace, and then BOOM, it's Monday again. I haven't washed my hair yet, and I have no idea where the laptop charger went. 

Tell me it's not just me. 

If you read last week's Biz love letter, you'll know I intended to spend last week away from work and into some of my favourite creative spaces for some serious downtime. Also, if you've been here a while, you'll know that I will never manage an entire week away from my work. What can I say?? I just love being here with you! 

I am pleased to report that last week was mostly spent taking time out to enjoy some day-to-day R&R, including trips to the beach, a fun and nostalgic evening for a dear friend's birthday in an arcade bar (did you even know that was a thing?) and coffee by the river in the sunshine only occasionally checking in with Social Media and some of my favourite writers on Substack. 

It was while scrolling that I came across the quote I want to share with you today, and it went like this: 

"Time is the only currency you spend without ever knowing your balance. Use it wisely" - The Universe

We never know our balance when it comes to time, do we? As I sat drinking my coffee in the late October sunshine, it occurred to me, not for the first time, that there's something kind of magical about taking a step back and letting yourself just be for a while. 

When we're constantly on the go, it's easy to forget that time isn't just this endless stream of minutes and hours, and the funny thing is, we can work ourselves crazy over earning money, but when it comes to time – the one thing we can never get back – we sometimes give it away without a second thought. 

How often would we do that with £ and $? 

So, this week, if you're going to splurge on anything, let it be on moments that make you feel alive or at ease. It doesn't have to be a week or even a day; it can be a five-minute break looking out of the nearest window. The point is to make the time.

Taking a couple of days to unplug has reminded me of the value of my time – not in doing more, but in feeling more, connecting more, and just soaking up the moments we usually rush past on our way to the next big idea (I am totally guilty of this 🙋🏻‍♀️) 

The funny thing is, of course, that when we make the time, our brains usually come up with much more creative ideas and ways to problem-solve. When we're not constantly pushing, we begin attracting, and life is much easier. Think of it as a choice between pushing a massive boulder up the hill or having machinery lift that weight for you so that you can walk alongside and enjoy the view. Sounds simple, right? Yet in business, we so often choose the former and wear it like the proverbial badge of honour, earning our entrepreneurial stripes and all that (it's total crap, by the way. You don't need to struggle to have a story or to earn anything).

The next time you're tempted to say yes to just one more commitment or your shoulders start to feel heavy from the weight of the tasks you're piling on in the name of productivity, just take five minutes and take a few deep breaths. Step out of doing and regain your clarity. 

If it still feels like the right course of action, go for it; if not well, perhaps it's time for a change (of mind, heart or plan) and given enough space, your brain and body always know the answer.

Btw, I'm not sitting here in some zen-like state, encouraging you to do nothing and wait for results; we all know we have to take action, and your girl here has a to-do list longer than both of her arms this week, BUT I do want to leave you with this: It really doesn't matter that we don't know our time balance. What matters is that we live with intention because the real richness of life is found in how deeply we choose to live it, not in counting down the hours. 

Spend your time like it's your greatest asset—because it is.

I believe in you (always).

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Tricia Scott is a passionate startup business mentor and the Founder and Editor of The Female CEO - Create Evolve Overcome, a platform and digital magazine holding the space to showcase female entrepreneurs from all over the world. 

The Female CEO is gaining global recognition daily and Tricia is able to bring her own level of expertise as a start-up mentor and multi-company director to her very exclusive table along with her team of brilliant Guest Editors and Contributors. You'll usually find her with her MacBook in one hand and a coffee or a glass of something fizzy in the other. Reach out anytime!