Many folks reading this might not be doing that (yet) and need the examples that I set forth, so I’m leaving those for those who need them.

I appreciate your kind words and hope that others get as much value from reading these posts!

Many blessings,
Nancy

Thank you for your tosses- all are wonderful. What I loved about your article was the “spinning your wheels” concept that I have noticed when I lose track of what I want and getting in the Spirit place where I can hear direction and take inspired action! Excellent article!

Thanks for your Presence!
Auretha Callison http://www.intuitionstyling.com
http://www.funfashionfairy.blogspot.com

Rather than read this post and use the energy to feel bad about your efforts, what IF you chose to think of 1 action (5 min a day) you could do to more yourself in the direction you want to go? Maybe…5 min of quiet at the start of each day, 5min to do self-love mirror-work mid-day, or 5min to pray at the end of each day? Which one feels best for you?

Many blessings,
Nancy

The question remains: Are you as effective when you go non-stop without taking regular breaks as you would be IF you scheduled regular time to just *BE*?

For myself, the answer was unexpected. I had no idea how ineffective I had become UNTIL I started taking time away. I started noticing I was working LESS, but getting MORE done! Many times I didn’t even realize I was *stuck* until I took a break and came back refreshed. Then, I starting reading accounts of famous successful people who took naps (Thomas Edison) or walked ( Soren Kirkegaard, Julia Cameron, –this is the most common “break”) or otherwise gave themselves quiet, alone time before making big decisions (Andrew Carnegie).

It’s important not to confuse action with effectiveness, though. Solopreneurs can take all kinds of action that is pointless, timewasting, and frustrating. They seem (and feel) busy all the time. However, to get your head in a place where you are making calm, clear decisions and then taking action from that place, most people benefit from taking regular breaks.

Thank you, Iyabo, for stimulating the thoughts about Allowing Success!

Many blessings,
Nancy

Listen, I am not good on this one.

I love working so much that I do not take as many breaks as I should. Then when I shut down, I end up not doing a single thing for a couple of days.

However, i would rather be a marathon runner than a sprinter.

Thanks so much for the reminder.

Iyabo Asani,
The Inner Genius Coach.
Iyabo Asani, The Inner Genius Coach´s last blog ..On Iron Mike Tyson

Enjoy the time you take for breaks, and look for fun ways to incorporate them into your day. You’ll notice your productivity soaring because solutions will come to you quicker, and WHEN you are actually working you will ENJOY being there!

Thank you for sharing your story so others can learn from it!

Many blessings,
Nancy

Because I love my work (that hardly feels like work) I would work hour after hour in my home office. Break? I would not even answer my personal telephone line because I was “in the moment” and did not want to lose my momentum. I worked this way for several months and now I am paying the price–burned out.

I will never work at that pace again. I returned to my morning work out; however, I will schedule a couple of additional breaks throughout the day. Thanks Nancy.

Glad that you came by to comment! Your first paragraph really hits the nail on the head:

The delicate balance has been deciding when to pull myself away even when the clock tells me to must press on; when I listen to the clock I have often realized hours later that pressing on was the equivalent of “chasing my tail”.

This is exactly my point: Pressing on, pushing through, trying to force an outcome is far less efficient and effective than recognizing the struggle and taking a break. Countless times I’ve sat frustrated in my office, stewing over a problem and thought, “There’s got to be a better way!!!” Then, I go for a 10-20 minute walk, during which several solutions come to mind, and I walk back into my office with a refreshed view—and solutions. One of them always works. )

Spirit-based Solo and small business owners who want to connect with other successful people, be uplifted and inspired, and brainstorm solutions benefit from Quantum MasterMind, a weekly phone meeting that offers much more than traditional mastermind groups. Click on the link and join us!

Many blessings,
Nancy

In my core business of writing and instructional design, there’s a bit of a catch-22: when not being attentive to being caught-up in activity, I breed inattention and literally need to “break” the cycle. Awareness bells and wind chimes can serve as helpful reminders.

A mindfulness technique that you have reminded me (thanks!) to use more consistently is to pause when I’ve completed even a small “to do” just to re-center and consider whether the next item on my list is something that should get my attention at that moment.

I’m glad to have “found” you and others like Kathleen Casey and was just thinking how wonderful it would be to “be” with you, both.