Why Slowing Down could Be the Smartest Business Move You Make
Somewhere between the early mornings to late evenings working, the never-ending to-do list and the constant notifications, I found myself switching off and going away and, for the first time, leaving my work phone at home.
I will be totally honest here - I was nervous. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel, if I’d spend the whole time worrying about work or if I’d come back feeling rushed off my feet and stuck in total overwhelm. But here is my honest takeaway and feelings about leaving my phone at home whilst Tom, Amelie and I boarded a plane and relaxed in the Spanish sunshine.
At first, it was overwhelming. I’ve actually never gone more than a day or two without checking my work phone. What if a client needed something and I wasn’t there to help, was if there was a whole email trail that needed my attention that I was going to totally miss? What if I lost momentum once I came back? Fortunately, and what I probably always knew deep down to be true, none of those things happened. Instead of all of my worst case scenarios, I paused. I took the time with my family to be present and I remembered exactly why I started my own business in the first place.
I watched sunsets, ate ice cream on the beach, I read every minute I got and I spent evenings playing cards without a laptop in sight. At first I almost felt guilty. “I should be working.” But in the slow moments I realised, I actually really needed this and my business was going to benefit from this pause too.
By the end of the week I felt lighter, clearer and super excited about what I was coming back to. I had new ideas, space and some clarity on what was and wasn’t working for me.
Why slowing down isn’t falling behind
In the hurry-up business culture we’ve been sold, we’re told that more output = more success. Post every day. Launch five offers a year. Be everywhere, all the time. But what if we actually start to recognise that growth isn’t about frantic motion all the time and it’s actually about sustainable systems and habits that work with your lifestyle and not against it.
When you create internal lean-machines like automations, workflows and super clear boundaries, you free up time for what really matters to you. Whether that’s being present with your family, finding time to get creative or just relaxing with a good book, guilt free - you can do all of those things and run a successful business.
While I was away I knew I had:
Automations handling the repeating tasks
Workflows in place to keep things efficient
I’d already planned ahead to give me direction without burnout
And I actually sat back and delegated tasks to someone else!
So I knew with my systems in place and someone trustworthy and reliable, I could enjoy my holiday without any stress or fear my business would fall apart without me!
GOOD Systems CAN give you space
People don’t always believe me when I say this but having good systems set up effectively can actually create space for you.
Automate what you can: things like email sequences, booking confirmations, client onboarding. Tools exist so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel each time. It saves you SO much time and even a small investment can make the world of difference.
Map out each step of your service from start to finish: Get to know what happens at every stage and when it should happen. Standardise things so you spend less time figuring it out out and more time doing the things you love. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to spend the evening sending and chasing invoices. I’d rather be getting cosy on the sofa watching Gilmore Girls.
Block out days: for deep work, days for outreach and for those all important days off. Protect the off-days as fiercely as you would your client appointments.
Schedule in rest: I mean literally put holidays, down-time and creative days onto your calendar. Treat them like appointments. You deserve them AND you need them.
Boundaries = Freedom: No more answering late-night messages, no more “just one more thing” before bed. When your clients know you’re serious about your time, they respect you more and the more you enforce your boundaries, the less you find yourself apologising for actually stopping work to go to bed (it’s already 10pm, you don’t owe anyone a response right now)
Sustainability = long-term income, clarity & peace
When you’re always scrambling, you’re being reactive. When you’re well rested, you’re proactive. You make intentional choices instead of putting out fires and that helps you attract (the right) clients because you show up clear, calm and aligned.
A little invitation
Think about the week ahead. What day could you give yourself as a no-work day? Or if that feels too much, maybe you could block out an hour each day for yourself.
Choose one task you could automate so it doesn’t sit on your to do list, eating up time every week?
If you blocked one hour this week just to think, what would you think about? Put pen to paper and see where your creativity flows. It may be your best business idea yet!
If you’d like help building these systems so your business supports you (rather than using you up) or maybe you just need an outsider to help put things into perspective, I’d love to chat. Let’s make your business sustainable, aligned and totally joyful! So you can pause when you want… and still move forward when you’re ready.
