So, how long has it been since you took a break? As today is Labor Day here in the United States (a day that most people traditionally have "off" from work), I thought it an appropriate question. Especially since I (and many other Webmasters like me) will still be working today. Will you?
When working for someone else, it's easy to take those much-needed holidays, vacations and weekends off, to kick back and re-energize - after all, having time off from work is the law in many cases. But where is the balance between work and play when you are busy working 10-12 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (or so it can seem), while trying to build your success?
Working Off-Balance
Working 10-12 hours every day is not unusual in this business, and sitting for long periods of time under stress, staring at a glaring screen in the darkness while fighting to fix problems on your site is a common event. And it doesn't stop there; if you're basically a one-man (or woman) "amateur" show, then chances are that you may also be a photographer (or you work with one) and the photo editor as well.
Oh, and girls, I haven't forgotten about you: I've been there and done that too, and now after a well-deserved hiatus, I'm getting back into the business; older, wiser, and better than ever before. I know exactly how much time and energy it takes to look your best for the camera - especially when you're not 18 anymore! I mean, you're not just a model, you're the stage prop coordinator, makeup artist, cleaning crew, a body contortionist, and likely fulfill quite a few other roles as well. Not to mention the fact that after all of this "fun" you're probably going to bed late and wasted, with a backache and a few other aches as well.
"You have to do whatever it takes to hold the member's interest so you can make the big bucks" is what we usually tell ourselves; trying to justify the amount of time and effort we invest in our sites. There has to be a better way to balance this circus act, though, so that we don't work our way into the ground, burning out, or going as far as causing harm or abnormal and premature aging to our bodies.
Making The Choice
So, now that I've got you on the edge of your seat, anxiously waiting for me to give you a few good suggestions, I need to tell you to get off the edge of your seat! Get up, stretch, and take a look around. While I can tell you to take your vitamins, get plenty of sleep, exercise, take up yoga, or even call a masseuse to give you a weekly rub-down, you already know these remedies — the key is to make the choice.
This choice for me was simple, and came down to this: I realized that in order to live life to its fullest, I had to actually be living and healthy to enjoy the success I worked so hard to obtain. So the only real suggestion that I can give you is to make a plan that works for you in balancing your work and play, and then stick with it to truly succeed. You can take that all-important first step by shutting off your computer now, and enjoying your Labor Day off! Have fun! ~ Ayrora
