Stop Working When You Aren't at Work!

13 replies
A great way to make work a more important role in your life is by not working when you are off.

Instead of working when you aren't at work, try and push yourself to do more when you are actually working. This way you aren't struggling and becoming the workaholic.

I used to work 14 hours a day online and then when I stopped working, I was still at work, at least in my head. I continuously checked my emails, statistics, earnings, and everything else that had to do with my business.

However, I found that when I stopped doing those things I started being more productive and began struggling less and less.

So, to push myself even farther today I got rid of smart phone and let my iPod Touch die. I went to the Sprint store and purchased an old flip phone that has no access to the internet. Literally all I can do is call a friend or make an emergency call.

I found that my day was much more enjoyable when I wasn't checking my messages and when I got home I actually felt like DOING, instead of CHECKING.

Does anyone out there have a problem with working when they aren't at work? If so, share it with us Maybe you'll spark someone into realizing they are doing the same thing.

P.S. I have no problem with workaholics, heck I am one, but we all need to relax every once in a while and I am beginning to realize that I relax a lot better when I can't do anything relating to work
#stop #work #working
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Ten
    Hmm... sort of. Ironically, I have a problem of working when I am working. And enjoy working when I am not working at work. Although, I do mostly enjoy my full time work, I'd rather be semi-retired, to be honest. lolol
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  • Profile picture of the author Justin Says
    Oh, don't get me wrong, I love working. But I get a little too addicted sometimes and it can tend to interfere with other things in my life. Especially, living.

    It actually got to me so much that I would walk away from the laptop and 2 minutes later I would still be working, even if I was down the street. I could be in the middle of a situation, but then suddenly I would receive an email stating I made a sale, or would get a phone call from someone interested in my services. It just got way too much into my personal life and free time that I didn't really have any time to do anything else.
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    My name is Justin Lewis. My digital marketing company has been in business for over 10 years with multiple six-figure years. We do provide a premium web design service.

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  • Profile picture of the author ccora
    It's all about balance. Working hard is good but so it playing hard in order to balance it off. These days, even if I have a full work schedule, I'll make sure that I schedule play time or time for other things besides work in my daily calendar. These are important.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gilearn
    This is interesting it is just the other day i was fighting all this. I am a fulltime IM and it is tricky to avoid working when you are not suppose to...I had actually to literally remove the battery because i work at home. I also i have a phone that has no internet it is very easy not to balance the two and once you do, you can work double...thanks for the thread i thought i was alone.
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  • Profile picture of the author gabwilliams
    Problem I have is that I work 9 til 5 in a regular job, and then come home and work most evenings online to make ends meet! Hopefully soon I will have some kind of breakthrough before I have a breakdown!
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  • Wow i couldn't agree more with this great post

    Reading the 80-20 principle really opened my eyes on this one. Literally we achieve 80% of our results in 20% of the time we spend! That means we are incredibly pretty much close to wasting 80% of our time 'tricking' ourselves into being 'busy' but not productive!

    I prefer focusing more on expanding that super productive 20% and expanding on it. Personally I love the idea of being as strategic as possible and I'm starting to get onto 'edutainment' the worlds of entertainment and learning combined, by listening to greats such as sun tzu's art of war, audiobooks on mp3 and generally filling my mind with strategic paradigms that can change the old paradigms i have lived by. I reckon this is what ultimately dictates our productiveness anyway, the paradigms we live by
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    • Profile picture of the author Justin Says
      Originally Posted by AsbestosRemovalsPerthWA View Post

      Wow i couldn't agree more with this great post

      Reading the 80-20 principle really opened my eyes on this one. Literally we achieve 80% of our results in 20% of the time we spend! That means we are incredibly pretty much close to wasting 80% of our time 'tricking' ourselves into being 'busy' but not productive!

      I prefer focusing more on expanding that super productive 20% and expanding on it. Personally I love the idea of being as strategic as possible and I'm starting to get onto 'edutainment' the worlds of entertainment and learning combined, by listening to greats such as sun tzu's art of war, audiobooks on mp3 and generally filling my mind with strategic paradigms that can change the old paradigms i have lived by. I reckon this is what ultimately dictates our productiveness anyway, the paradigms we live by
      Hey

      I just started watching the Sun Tzu Art of War on Youtube. Very good story
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      My name is Justin Lewis. My digital marketing company has been in business for over 10 years with multiple six-figure years. We do provide a premium web design service.

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  • Profile picture of the author brianman
    I have to admit. I struggle with this. I can't do one thing and enjoy it. When I'm not working, I'm trying to think of what I need to do when I get back to work. When I'm working, I think of how nice it will be when I get some time off again. It's terrible. Help! I'm addicted!
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    • Profile picture of the author Justin Says
      Originally Posted by brianman View Post

      I have to admit. I struggle with this. I can't do one thing and enjoy it. When I'm not working, I'm trying to think of what I need to do when I get back to work. When I'm working, I think of how nice it will be when I get some time off again. It's terrible. Help! I'm addicted!
      @Brian,

      I get you dude I can definitely say that I struggle with this every single minute of the day. But sometimes you have to give yourself a break.

      I work full-time online so it's really tough not to think about it because it's my passion.

      But yesterday I took almost 90% of the day off (had to get a little in to make my brain happy lol).

      I had a great lunch, went to the gym, rode on the motorcycle for a few hours, had a wonderful dinner with my best friend (and only real friend in this area), went for another 30 minute ride and came home

      In the end it was a great time off and I am back doing more than I have for the past few days in just a few hours.
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      My name is Justin Lewis. My digital marketing company has been in business for over 10 years with multiple six-figure years. We do provide a premium web design service.

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  • Profile picture of the author stopper
    Sometimes am off but still catch myself working, It is like the nasty habit am trying to get rid of.
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  • Profile picture of the author emmndi
    Balancing a full time day job and IM can be really taxing. However I am hoping I will be in a position to balance and make it.
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  • Profile picture of the author jmcgriever
    I agree it's really, really important to take a break from working - especially tough when you work at home, cause you're tempted to work all the time.

    My new strategy is just treating it like a job. Work during the allotted "work time" (say, 8-5 with breaks in between), and then quit for the day.

    It's really important to de-stress and unwind as well. Physical activity is a good idea, imo.
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  • Profile picture of the author SUPER Louie
    lol that actually depends if you have an office. I work from home, and I'm always at the computer so I can't separate work from personal stuff I'll get to it when the time comes.
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