Unplugging. Calendars and diaries are wonderful for helping us note down our appointments and other crucial work based information, but I bet you anything there is something missing from it. So, stop reading this and go and check now! Have you got some UNPLUGGED hours or days scheduled? You know the ones where you are totally unplugged from everything business related. What!!! You don’t have any!!??? Don’t you think you need any?

Wrong buster! You so need them and I’m going to show you how you too can become unplugged.

What Does Unplugging Look Like?

Remember when you didn’t have a smartphone? Or you did not have any social media accounts? Remember the time when you did something just because you wanted to? How about that time when you had a coffee outside and watched the clouds?

While unplugging looks different for everyone, there is one common aspect; you do what you want to do just because you want to do it. No other reason is necessary. So the sky’s the limit here, with the choices wide open just for you.

And yes, you have to.

How Can I Unplug? I’m Too Busy!

There are three main steps you should follow:

• Step 1 – schedule an unplugging session.
• Step 2 – during your unplugging session, do whatever the hell you want.
• Step 3 – schedule another unplugging session

Picture this. You are in a beautiful field filled with wonderful smelling flowers which you just want to pick. But you can’t get there because there are so many weeds in the way, tangling around your ankles and tripping you up.

But stop just a moment and picture yourself standing still, eyes closed and just hearing the birds singing. I know, I know; way too much imagery AJ, get to the point! But that is the point. When you stop and smell the flower (or hear the birds), your mind switches off and new solutions appear. You realise that your hand is holding the exact tool you need to cut through those weeds. That my friends is called perspective and just one of the benefits of unplugging.

Stop Worrying During Unplugging Time

We all do it. It can be incredibly hard to tune off from work when you are always wondering what you have not done or stuff you need to do. But have you heard of Trello? You can use it to record lists of stuff you have to do, stopping those niggling worries. It’s a great free way of visually recording your job lists and lots of fun too.

But first, I want to know right now. Have you scheduled yourself some unplugged time? Tell me below in the comments when that is and your ideas about what you are going to do.

Looking for time out FOR your business? Check out the Business Owners Retreat – see how much you can get done with zero distractions.