One of the questions on the weekend engagement topics this week was "Have you owned your own business, and what do you do to recharge?" Here is one of my favorite new ways to recharge.
Like many from my generation, I've worked hard for decades. This means I've not only worked hard at my day job, but I've also run several of my own businesses over the years.
Folks quickly learn that when you work for yourself, it often means that you don't get paid when you take time off for medical reasons, emergencies, or even just for fun. For me, I've taken the steps to not only have a day job that pays well, but also side businesses that make money from my hobbies, and/or also end up being a good tax write off.
I've found that while I'm a recovering workaholic, I don't need as much time to recharge as some people seem to. I'm definitely not one of those work/life balance types that believes a work/life balance means only working 30 hours a week.
For me, a typical work week is 50-60 hours a week and often more at the day job, then an additional 20 hours or so on my hobbies, or other business interests. I have found that I thrive in a busy work environment. It was a learning curve to fit in more relaxation and down time, but I found that for me, just a few hours is all it takes for me to feel fulfilled and recharged.
Not around the crowds or people, but get me to the beach, to a park, to the wilderness, or even just a couple hours hanging out naked by the pool and I'm relaxed, recharged, and ready to take on more of the week.
This walk was special in that we spotted over 15 sea turtle nests on our short walk. Here on our beach area, there's actually a turtle protection crew that puts up these little sticks and tape/signs to keep people off the nests and from damaging them. I've never seen a turtle hatching yet, but hoping I get to see one with all the little baby turtles scrambling for the sea.
I hope you enjoy this brief outing we made this morning to the beach. We slept in until 6:30 am, had coffee, then went to the beach. It was a 10 minute drive, a mile walk, some pictures and hang out watching waves, shell searching, then 10 minutes back home all before 9am and doing some house chores before hanging by the pool for another couple hours this afternoon.
Pretty much a perfect weekend.
What about you? Are you a work hard / play hard type person? Or do you need extended vacations to chill out? How was your weekend and what did you do to relax?