As an entrepreneur for over 16 years, I have always worked excessively. I was constantly worrying that I would lose my clients if I didn’t please them around the clock.
I was working tremendous hours a week until I understood it would affect my health.
I started to find ways to slow down.
*This post includes an affiliate link to a book recommendation
I had always been a minimalist on material matters. But my lifestyle couldn’t have been further from that.
I didn’t have time to enjoy my life, do those things that bring me joy.
Mountain hiking, reading, and cooking.
I had time to travel the world, because it was part of my job (and still is).
But I didn’t have time to enjoy the beautiful places I visited.
Things needed to change.
Traveling taught me to get offline
One thing I’d noticed while traveling. Even with tight schedules, I didn’t feel stressed because I could concentrate on one thing at a time, and most importantly:
I often did not have access to web.
I learned that cutting hours spent on the web is the best way to reduce stress.
I had set an automated reply message on my email telling when I will be connected next time.
Then, reading *Timothy Ferriss’ book The 4-Hour Workweek was a real eye-opener.
Why couldn’t I do the same every day?
Now I have an automated reply to tell that I only check my mail twice a week.
Haven’t hurt in any way. That was a surprise.
Creativity demands a rested brain
I finally understood that making valuable business doesn’t demand 20 hours of work a day. It needs fresh thoughts, and that comes with a rested brain.
I also stay offline every morning until afternoon, which gives me undisturbed morning hours for creative thinking.
It is not possible to write a blog if the web is disturbing. You won’t be able to concentrate on your text while scrolling through Facebook, so don’t let even your work on social media be an excuse to be always online.
I also started to cut down my duties. I left some volunteer work and began to think about different business logics to be able to earn my income in fewer hours than before.
I went back to school to get a diploma in a new field and launched a new company.
Unfortunately, that business didn’t develop the way I expected, and I had to let that go.
– The skill I had just learned: don’t get stuck on something that only causes you more stress and won’t bring you any joy.
I just returned from a five-week trip trekking in the mountains in the Balkans.
I had limited my web access to a very short time daily and noticed already after a few days the relief.
My blood pressure was stabilizing, I slept very well, and all the symptoms that I had for a couple of years, caused by troubles in my work, were gone.
Back to business, back to stress
Unfortunately, I noticed it also in reverse: I returned to my home office this weekend and after a first work day on Monday, started handling things related to that unsuccessful business I haven’t still been able to get rid of, even a year after leaving. I again lost my sleep and got physical symptoms.
Now I am even more certain how important my plans are, changing my life to be the way I want.
With my minimalism blog, I want to share my thoughts to help you think about what is meaningful in your life. To find ways to move towards your dream life.
To find those things that are really valuable in your life.
To draw a map of your future life and to find your path into it.
Less is more in work too
I have published this blog for more than a year, but I mostly write in my native language, Finnish, so this is sort of my (not so short) introduction in English.
At the moment, I am launching, once more, a new start-up company. I’ll be working on my original field, I am skilled at: Journalism.
But I will not return to a 100-hour work week.
Please feel welcome to share your thoughts and comment on my blog.
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