A couple years ago, I was working part-time at our church, part-time for my dad at the family business, and building this photography business that I'm so passionate about. On top of that, Kaelyn and I were struggling with infertility. I was at my wits end, totally overcome by stress. I wasn't myself. I was letting busyness and stress steal my joy. The need for a full-time job with insurance benefits was great. My desire to do something that I love was strong too. And our infertility journey just added a lot to the huge weight on my shoulders.
God has been so good to bring us through that time of overwhelming stress and busyness. He has given so much grace, and we do not know where we would be today without His strength.
For those of you who may be struggling with stress, busyness and balancing work with life, here are 5 truth bombs to provide some perspective on burn out and work/life balance.
1. A rested brain is a creative brain. It’s easy to get caught up in all that you have to accomplish and forget the importance of rest. When I worked at The Wilds of New England, our director, Rand Hummel, used to tell us to have an Elijah weekend. By this, he didn’t mean that he wanted us to call down fire from Heaven. Yikes! That would definitely not help with burn out! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist the dad joke opportunity.) Rand just wanted us to eat, sleep, and repeat. It’s so important for us to take this formula to heart. There is a reason that when God created the world, He rested on the 7th day. He was setting an example for us that work is good, but we all need at least one day of rest.
2. There is a BIG difference between being busy and being successful. As an entrepreneur, you think that if you keep busy, you will be more successful. In fact, some entrepreneurs think that busyness equals success. I get it. I’ve been there. But the truth is, you can totally be a success without being overworked. You can have an 8am to 10pm work day, but that doesn’t mean that you should. Those late nights in front of your computer screen will eventually catch up with you. You may not suffer the next day, but eventually the snowball effect is going to take you down.
3. Moderation is the key. Have you heard the phrase, ____ is better in moderation? That applies to work/life balance, as well. Sweets are good. Exercise is good. Work is good. Family is good. But too many sweets can be a very bad thing for your heath (hm… I wonder how I know that…). Too much exercise can put unnecessary strain on your body. Too much work can steal your joy and leave no time with family. If you never work and spend all your time with family, you won’t be able to support your family.
4. It’s okay to take a break. Your business will thank you. Some successful entrepreneurs take sabbaticals. Take Jenna & Drew Kutcher for example. They head off to Hawaii for a month, and their businesses are doing just fine.
Not all of us are Jenna & Drew. We may not be able to get away with taking a month off, but we all need a break. Periodically, I will take a week off from posting, planning, and photographing. Granted, I still work my 8-5, but at least this gives me the evenings off.
5. Everyone needs rest. You may be able to work longer without suffering from burn out. Some people require more sleep, while others require less. My wife falls into the “requires more sleep” category. She’s not really a morning person or a night owl, so she likes to say that she’s more of an afternoon person. We are all different, but the point is: we all need rest.
Don’t be afraid to take time to rest. Your customers and your business will thank you. When you are well rested, you will be much more productive, creative, and happy in your work. Set yourself up for success by giving your body a chance to recharge. This way you will be your best creative self when you show up to work.
Did this resonate with you? Was it helpful? I’d love to hear from you and connect. Reach out at tommymontgomeryphoto@gmail.com or find me on the ‘Gram or the FB.