If you’ve followed me for a while, you probably know that one of my transformative journeys has been going one from corporate climber to corporate drop-out.
But for many years – up until a year ago to be completely honest – my corporate background left its marks on me. I’m talking specifically about work habits.
My first jobs were all in high profile, high powered, high performance organization.
😵 There were long days where I would be at the office early and not come home until 10 at night.
😵 There was time related stress, with deliveries needing to be done yesterday.
😵 And there was a constant pressure to perform.
Me in that environment was like a perfect storm. I lived for work. I didn’t have any interests outside of it. I didn’t take breaks. I didn’t even go for lunch.
Regrettably I brought those habits along into my own businesses – and after many years, my body finally forced me to change. Thankfully, I had professional support that taught me new perspectives and new ways of working.
A habit that changed my life forever is stripey days.
(Don’t worry, it’s not as weird as it sounds!) 😉
Stripey days are the complete opposite my workdays of the past. A stripey day has many breaks, each of them a stripe (hence the name: work-break-work-break-work-break = stripey!)
Every break serves to let you rest the part of you that needs it the most at that very moment:
👉 If you’ve done a lot of physical work, a stripe can be reading a book or meditating.
👉 If you’ve been working away by your laptop, a stripe can be going for a walk or doing some stretching.
Long or short doesn’t matter. What matters is taking a break so that your system can rest and recharge.
I love my stripey days, because they keep me healthy and my life fun – plus there are endless variations of stripes. Just think about what could be fun and easy and do that!
My friend, whatever you do and however you work, I hope that you remember to give yourself a break, and to do it often. You’ll be better off for it, and so will your business.
With love,
Sanna xo
PS. New habits take time to form. I still set my alarm so that I’ll remember to take a break. I often start my days by writing up what my breaks – or stripes – should be that day. I even have a note on my laptop to remind me! The point is to make it work. So, whatever you need to make a new healthy habit work for you, be kind and give yourself exactly that.
