I love being busy.
There, I’ve said it.
I enjoy building businesses, working with people, training, setting goals and generally having plenty going on. I’m probably not very good at sitting still for too long!
But summer has a funny way of changing things.
The days are longer. Routines change. The kids are off school. Holidays happen. Training schedules get moved around. Work takes on a slightly different rhythm.
And, if I’m honest, I think that’s a good thing.
Because sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is step away from the routine you’ve created.
Not forever.
Just long enough to remember that there’s a world outside of your diary.
Over the years, I’ve become much more conscious of the importance of slowing down, particularly when it comes to my mental health.
I used to think that being productive meant constantly doing something.
Now I think being productive means having enough energy, clarity and perspective to do the things that actually matter.
And sometimes, that means doing less.
1. You Don’t Always Need to Be Doing Something
We’re living in a world where being busy can almost feel like a badge of honour.
“How are you?”
“Busy!”
It’s become the standard answer.
I’ve definitely been guilty of it.
But being busy and being productive aren’t the same thing.
You can spend an entire day answering emails, jumping between meetings, checking your phone and dealing with problems without actually moving anything important forward.
Sometimes you need to stop.
Go outside.
Have a coffee.
Spend time with your family.
Go for a bike ride.
Do absolutely nothing for half an hour.
And yes, I appreciate that sounds like a terrible idea to some entrepreneurs!
But I’ve learned that my brain needs downtime just as much as my body needs recovery after training.
2. Space Creates Perspective
One of the biggest benefits I’ve found from slowing down is perspective.
When you’re in the middle of a busy period, everything feels important.
That email needs answering immediately.
That problem needs solving today.
That decision can’t possibly wait.
Then you step away for a few hours and suddenly you realise…
It probably could have waited.
That’s why I love getting outside.
Mountain biking has become a big part of that for me.
There is something incredibly powerful about being somewhere quiet, away from screens, phones and constant noise.
You’re just there.
Moving.
Thinking.
Breathing.
And quite often, that’s when I find I solve things I’ve been overthinking for days.
Not because I was working harder.
Because I finally stopped.
3. Being Present Is a Skill
This is something I’ve become much more conscious of as my children have got older.
Time moves incredibly quickly.
One minute you’re taking them to primary school.
Then suddenly they’re in high school and you’re wondering where the years went.
That makes being present even more important to me.
When I’m with my family, I want to actually be with them.
Not physically there while mentally thinking about work.
Not checking emails while someone is talking to me.
Not thinking about what I need to do tomorrow.
Actually present.
That’s easier said than done.
Our phones make it incredibly easy to be distracted.
But I’ve realised that presence is something you have to practise.
You have to consciously choose it.
And when you do, you get so much more from the people and experiences around you.
4. Rest Doesn’t Mean You’ve Lost Your Drive
This is probably the biggest misconception I’ve had to overcome.
For a long time, I associated slowing down with losing momentum.
If I wasn’t training, working or progressing, I felt like I was going backwards.
I don’t think that anymore.
In fact, I think the opposite is true.
Recovery allows you to come back stronger.
That’s something I’ve learned through endurance training.
You can’t train at maximum intensity every single day.
Your body wouldn’t cope.
Your mind wouldn’t cope either.
Business is no different.
If you’re constantly operating at 100%, eventually something gives.
You become impatient.
Your decision-making suffers.
Your energy drops.
And the people around you feel it.
Taking a step back isn’t weakness.
It’s maintenance.
5. The Routine Can Wait
As September arrives, routines start returning.
The kids are back at school.
Work picks up.
Calendars fill.
Training gets structured again.
And I actually enjoy that.
I like having goals.
I like having structure.
But I’m taking something from the slower pace of summer with me.
The reminder that life isn’t supposed to be one long list of things to achieve.
There needs to be space for experiences too.
That’s one of my five life currencies.
Experiences.
And some of the best experiences don’t involve achieving anything.
They involve being somewhere beautiful.
Having dinner with people you love.
Laughing with your kids.
Going for a ride.
Sitting quietly.
Having a conversation without looking at the clock.
Those moments matter.
I don’t think the answer is to slow down permanently.
That’s not realistic for me, and honestly, I’m not sure I’d enjoy it!
I like my businesses.
I like my goals.
I like training.
I like having things to work towards.
But I’ve learned that slowing down occasionally makes everything else better.
It clears my head.
It improves my relationships.
It gives me perspective.
It makes me more grateful.
And ultimately, it makes me better at the things I care about.
So as we move out of summer and into another busy part of the year, I’m taking a little reminder with me:
You don’t always need to move faster.
Sometimes you need to stop.
Take a breath.
Look around.
And actually enjoy the life you’re working so hard to build!
