Follow any hustling entrepreneur on Instagram, and you’ll quickly get the impression that unless you’re working 24/7 with only the gym and sauna to break up your productivity sessions, you’re never going to be successful.
Of course, the old fable of the tortoise and the hare is appropriate here, and as you already know it, we won’t patronize you with an explanation. Those who think that the world is only composed out of hustle missed the times when Leonardo Da Vinci sat pensively in his home, resting his energies before his next grand project, or that William Shakespeare must have loved sitting down and reading to become so good at the form.
We’re going to make the argument that if you don’t refresh and relax your entrepreneurial mind (within its own appropriate space), then you’re not getting the best out of your productivity. The body and the brain just doesn’t work that way. No one is a machine.
So, how should you refresh and relax your entrepreneurial mind? Let’s consider that:
Low-Stakes Games
Games don’t always need to be serious, high effort, or mentally taxing. Some people like to switch off with video games only to play in ranked competitive lobbies and leave more irritated than when they began. That’s hardly blowing off steam, although there’s something to be said for throwing your energy into competition instead of the churn of daily work.
You could try for a simple card game, a light puzzle, or a casual mobile game as they help you focus your mind on something that doesn’t have stakes to it, it switches off your “think about work” mindset, but also keeps you switched on like the new bingo sites. You’ll be letting your brain breathe after a long stretch of deep focus, and come out refreshed. Just make sure you sit down for a small session and focus on that as opposed to playing solitaire while on a voice call.
Fiction/Fun Reading
If every book on the shelf is about business strategy, self-improvement, or the latest industry trends, the brain never really gets a break. Moreover, while self-help can be great, it’s pretty self-serious. You need a break from that from time to time. Fiction, humor, or even an old favorite you liked as a kid can transport the mind somewhere else for a while. It’s not time wasted either, as remaining sharp and literate trains your brain and focus. And let’s be honest, some of the best ideas don’t come from staring at a business plan but from getting lost in a great story and thinking elsewhere for a bit. It’s okay if you want to read about Greek wars or something more substantial, just make it fun.
Gentle Walks
There’s a reason why some of the greatest thinkers in history swore by long walks. A gentle stroll, no pressure, no time limit, no goal in mind will genuinely untangle thoughts in a way that sitting at a desk never will. It also gets your body moving but without the necessary thrown ambition of a gym routine which you may have otherwise, as it lends itself to more steady breathing and focus. If you’re annoyed at work or have some problem to work through you’re just not seeing, walk it out. Trust us.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily relax and refresh that attentive entrepreneurial mind.
