Page 3 - July 2017

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4 Tips for Getting Your Business Mojo Back

Christina R. Green
When you’re working long hours and the for support when you’re going through the taking a break, be there. Enjoy that mo-
stress is compiling, your personal life doesn’t career doldrums but unless they have been ment. Don’t look at your watch and
go on hold. You still have familial responsi- through similar situations, your complaining think you only have five minutes. Enjoy
bilities, bills to pay, friends to see, and thou- will eventually turn tiresome. You need to those five and if they were 50.
sands of other things that are on your mind. surround yourself with people who under-
Let’s face it. There are times at work that are stand the pressure of business. Joining the
just harder than others. Even the best job chamber of commerce is a wonderful way to End Your Day with a Ritual
can feel…well, like work sometimes. It’s be around people who understand your level This is not about lighting candles and
hard to be inspired and do your best on the of stress and the growing pains of business. using incense (unless you want it to be)
job when your business mojo has taken a Unlike friends and family, they have likely but establishing an activity that you do
back seat to all the other been there and can every night to signify to your mind and
pressing issues in your help you get going body that it’s time to wind down. Parents
life. But if you’re going to and navigate when often do this with an evening bath for
be satisfied in your pro- your sails have lost their babies. Choose 1-2 non-electronic
fessional life, it’s essential the wind. things that you will do consistently every
you get it back. Here’s Take a Break night right before bed. This is your
how: brain’s signal to begin powering down
Vacations are incredi-
and turn everything off.
bly important to our
Remember Why You peace of mind. Yet,
Went into Business the number of people Work is work. Even those of us who
in the First Place not using time off is love it go through periods where it’s a
hitting epidemic pro- grind. If you’re currently in a slump,
Most of us have a reason portions in this coun- don’t give up hope. These straightfor-
for going into the indus- ward ways can help you get your busi-
try we’re in. Even if you try. In 2016, 54% of
Americans didn’t use ness mojo back.
fell into it and it was not all their vacation.
on your career most- Some of those people But if it’s just not working, remember
wanted list, there’s some- our careers are a big part of our lives. If
thing that has kept you even lost it because it you’re not feeling fulfilled there, it per-
wasn’t used. Small
there. What is it? Is it business owners are meates other areas as well. Don’t allow
helping people, seeing the particularly vulnera- yourself that level of unhappiness. The
smiles on their faces, years are too short for that.
crunching numbers, solv- ble because they al-
ways wonder who’s
ing problems, or something else? Remember running things when they’re gone. If you’re
what it is that drew you to your industry (or a mom and pop operation, you may not
the reason you didn’t walk away three days
in). Then find a way to get back to that. have taken a vacation in years.
Often by the time a business owner realizes
It’s possible you’ve lost your business mojo they need one, they’re so burned out that
because you loved helping people and may- taking a week off doesn’t even help. It
be now you’re a manager and you don’t deal may actually add to the stress because
with the customer directly unless there’s a
problem. You can either give up the man- they’re wondering what’s going on
with the business and they’re con-
agement role and get back to what you cerned about what they’ll come back
love—helping people—or you can find ways to.
to help people in your current role like be-
coming a mentor to junior members of the But vacations aren’t the only way to
team. take a break (although, if you can, you
should). Most people go too long be-
Figure out what you originally loved and tween vacations. They end up working
find a way to bring more of it into your cur- many long hours before and after to
rent position, even if it means taking on take one. Some even take work with
another role or reworking yours slightly.
them. Instead, try to find ways to take
breaks throughout your day. Go for a
Surround Yourself with People Who walk at lunch. Start your day off with
Understand meditation or reading a chapter in a
favorite book.
It’s nice to lean on your friends and family
When you’re doing those things and