I Turned It Off

Last week we took a family vacation to Mexico to both get away and for the girls to dig their toes in the sand for the first time. 

We did it up. An all-inclusive resort, kids area water park, super fun slides, all-you-can-eat anything all day, and some kid-friendly entertainment. 

While it was the girls’ first big resort trip, it wasn’t for me. For the last 15 years, Sean’s qualified for an incentive trip that is typically at a resort in Mexico or the surrounding area. A nice reward for the travel they do throughout the week!

What was a first was me not checking my email or social media for 5 days. 

For some, this may sound so dramatic. Oh, wow, 5 days huh? Whoopie! Others may immediately gasp.

When I graduated college in 2007 I went into real estate. For 10 years I worked both within a team, with an individual, and on my own.

Real Estate is a wild world. I didn’t have a lot of boundaries and therefore was available almost all the time. I did love my job and I loved my clients so it was easy to justify working anytime…and the fear of not answering your phone could result in a potential client calling someone else {gasp!}. I also felt the need to show up on social to help build my business and make sure nooooobody forgot about me :) 

The other justification was to “get ahead” of the next day. To rid the junk emails and get a couple of quick items crossed off.

I later stopped real estate and started The Hatchery and the same thing. I loved what I did so working didn’t feel like work. Again, I was always logged in. Emails. Social. Newsletters. Etc.

Then I closed The Hatchery and started our online membership, coaching, and Small Business Cultivator.

Same thing. Emails. Social. Newsletters. Etc.

And if you listen to all the experts that’s how you grow. You show up. You're consistent. You add value. Rinse and repeat. Forever and ever amen.

I did this. Until last week. 

I logged off both email and social. 

One non-work reason was that we would be around water for most of the day and I couldn’t have the distraction. 

Two - I just didn’t want to be on it. I wanted a break…nope. I needed a break. 

So, I set my OOO and made a post on IG that I’d be out…which wasn’t needed, but here we are.

And for the first time, I didn’t feel like I HAD to be on. My finger didn’t even try to click on those icons. 

I knew nothing was going to burn down. Nothing so important was going to come in that it couldn’t wait. I also knew that most people wouldn't even notice the absence because I think we feel like more people are consuming our content than they actually do….no right, wrong, or indifferent, we’re all wrapped up in our own little worlds, right?!

Then yesterday I was listening to a podcast and the woman mentioned being available less during the summer. While she loves being connected, she wasn’t a newbie in the business world. 

And that hit. 

I had to remember that I wasn’t still in the “hustle” mode of starting my business. I’ve been sending an email to my newsletter almost every week for 8 years. 8 YEARS! I’ve also been posting pretty consistently and showing up at networking events for that same amount of time. 

Does it help my business when I do show up - absolutely. 

But, does it make or break it - no. 

What a relief that realization brought. That I could take a break. I could show up with intention and not because “I had to.”

So, my next goal - to take more breaks when I feel it’s needed. To work ahead and have stuff scheduled so I’m still “showing up” while taking a break. 

Now I’m turning it to you…I’d love to hear how you set some boundaries with social and email as a small business owner (or even not a business owner) when they’re always at our fingertips. 

Do you feel like you can? Or does your finger start to get twitchy? 

And if you haven’t set those boundaries and want to - I have a really beneficial framework to help with your schedule (or the growth of your team) so you can actually feel like you can step away!