I have just returned from 5 whole days of disconnecting from the online world and reconnecting with mother nature. This experience has left me with a whole new perspective on traveling, exercising and running my business.
I want to share a few home truths with you in a candid way. And I’m going to encourage you to take time out to travel, exercise and be a true Suitcase Entrepreneur.
The Adventure
I am the first to admit that up until lately, my work habits have put me in severe jeopardy of losing friends, the support of family members and even my health. OK this maybe a bit of an overstatement, but like many of us, I work too much, for too long and neglect to look out for my health and wellbeing.
So when my sister and I planned a trip to Patagonia where we would not always be in range of wifi I actually considered not going for fear of the damage it may do to my business.
Less than two weeks later, after booking my flight, I found myself lost in the beauty of Patagonia on an 86km hike that tackled the very challenging W trail in Torres Del Paine, Chile.
Glacier Grey, Torres del Paine
Imagine disconnecting from my laptop and replacing it with breathtaking glaciers, grand mountain ranges, an abundance of flora and fauna, cold nights, hot days, and the simplicity of cooking over a gasat stove and camping under the stars.
One word can describe it: BLISS
How did I do it?
I trusted in the systems I have built as a Suitcase Entrepreneur. The tools I employ and the small team that works with me to hold up the fort so that I can live the lifestyle I desire.
I also assumed that missing some conversations on Twitter, not posting on Facebook and ignoring LinkedIn was not cause mass chaos.
Was I right? Absolutely.
I am going to be very honest here. I am sick and tired of hearing people go on about being sick and tired. Including myself!
- Not enough hours in a day to do all you want?
- Not enough time in a week to run your business and have a life
- No moments to spare to exercise?
- No way you can take a vacation
Absolute bollocks.
Who the heck is holding you to this slavery you think is actually independence to run your own show?
The answer? YOU.
Thankfully, you also hold the key to freeing yourself from the shackles you have placed around your wrists that hold you to this mindset that all work and no play will make you rich and happy.
The Solution
Dust off that key and unlock yourself now.
Then book a trip that suits you where you can completely disconnect (or almost) to help your state of mind, your personal levels of health and wellbeing and ultimately your bottom line.
Disconnecting allows you to THINK. You think with clarity, with purpose and with meaning.
You discover that all you need to do is focus on the 20% of things that give you 80% of the results and NOTHING else. Do you hear me? Nothing else.
The Proposal
It is actually far easier to take time off and travel than you think. It can be seamlessly blended into your working life by being scheduled well in advance.
But there’s one more secret ingredient you need to add your travels – whether for pleasure, business or both – exercise.
Yes. I’m happy to say that regardless of where I am and what I am doing I can always fit in some invigorating form of exercise. In most cases it’s actually the smartest thing to do.
The Business of Exercise
Consider you’re away on a business trip. Your colleagues or team are getting up just in time for breakfast, sitting in a conference room all day and then boozing it up at night. Wash, repeat, rinse.
How do they feel at the end of that week? Exhausted, stressed, burdened, unfit and lethargic from the overindulging, lack of sleep and exercise and too much emphasis on work hard, play hard.
Picture this instead: Wake up 1 hour before your early breakfast for a run outside, or a trip to the hotel gym. Eat a healthy breakfast to fuel your body. Attend all day meetings with more clarity, focus and energy. Go easy on the after work drinks. Get a great night’s sleep. Wash, repeat, rinse.
The Energizing Vacation
Since I’ve felt more like a backpacker recently than a Suitcase Entrepreneur, I’ve realized that if you’re traveling for something other than work – like – an actual vacation, then you’re are in grave danger of becoming the traveler who just travels.
The poster boys - 3 Torres peaks
Hours of sitting in airports, coaches, trains, boats and planes can turn you into slob. Couple that with excess eating and drinking plus pleasure seeking activities, and you will find yourself 5 kgs heavier and more out of shape than when you left.
I’d like to challenge your version of a holiday then. I suggest if you’re going on a year-long backpacking trip, a beach bum holiday, a mountain chalet retreat or an exotic shopping trip in Dubai that incorporating exercise into your daily routine will make you enjoy yourself 100% more.
- Simple acts of brisk walking or renting a bike to explore your new destination provides a dual purpose – free sightseeing and exercise at the same time.
- Sitting on a beach – how about running, skipping or walking down it, throwing a Frisbee, taking a 20 min swim or simply doing ab work while getting a tan?
- Travelling to 30 countries in 5 months then why not put make it an active trip by biking sections of a country instead of catching a bus? Hiking a mountain range instead of doing a day visit, kayaking down a river instead of catching a boat? Sometimes these options are cheaper too!
I truly believe the answer to happiness lies in taking time out for ourselves, looking after our health and well being and unplugging frequently. So does the Nike Make Yourself Movement, who I’m honoured to represent along with 19 other fabulous women. This month they’re encouraging you to do the same