Free Day

Monday, May 19, 2008, by Leigh Anne

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“The take care of yourself stuff”

If you were to survey a group of homebased business owners and ask them to tell you their number one reason for having a homebased business I bet 9 out of 10 of them would answer FREEDOM! I know it’s mine. I don’t mean the freedom WHETHER to work or not (if you want to make money - you’ve got to work) but the freedom to choose WHEN to work!

That choice is why I started my homebased business 17 years ago. I have the freedom to work around my families schedules and other priorities in my life. It also gives me the freedom to take a Free Day once in a while.

According to an article I read from the Kauffman Foundation, a Free Day is a 24 hour period where the entrepreneur does not engage in any business related thinking, communication or actions. They also stated that the best Free Days are planned in advanced. The Free Day concept can also be used by people who don’t have a homebased business but just need a break from the stress and busyness of everyday life!

I decided to take a Free Day this past Friday. On Wednesday, I received an email from a friend who was organizing a hike in the Columbia Gorge, about an hour from my home. I had a work day scheduled as well as a dental appointment. But Friday promised to be a beautiful day, one of our first in a long time, and the wildflowers are in full bloom - what to do?

I got on the phone and rescheduled my dental appointment and worked twice as hard on Thursday to accomplish all the things I had scheduled for Friday and I took a Free Day on Friday!

I enjoyed a beautiful day in the Gorge with a wonderful group of woman. The view from Coyote Ridge was amazing and the flowers were beautiful.

I was a little worried about keeping with this group of woman, many of which are experienced hikers, but I did it! I will admit there was some huffing and puffing along the way but I enjoyed a wonderful Free Day. And look at how many steps I took!!

I was feeling pretty good about myself and my ability to keep up with the group until I woke up Saturday morning and I could barely move!! Advil was certainly my friend this weekend!!

So my recommendation - schedule a Free Day soon - a 24 hour break from any business thinking, communication or action or a break from life! Protect those days - don’t allow pressure, guilt or other people to get in your way. Taking a break from business and the pressures of day to day life can make a huge difference in your mental outlook and energy level (unless you’ve walked 20,000 steps!) It is a time to rejuvenate yourself physically, mentally and spiritually.

Have you ever taken a Free Day - what did you do?

Plan a Free Day now - let me know what you are going to do!

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