I was accused this week, and rightly so, of being somewhat of a workaholic. When you work for yourself, it’s easy to fall into a state of constant work. That next bill chirps in your ear, you find yourself catching a few minutes of email time here and there between meals, Twitter buzzes constantly with work-related issues in your pocket. It’s easy to lose track of yourself and drift into the abyss that is work-zombie-ism … and it’s important to avoid it!
This weekend was my younger brother’s birthday, so I had a great excuse to put off work for a while (in reality, I shouldn’t need an excuse to put off work …). It was relaxing, refreshing, and I got a lot done. I was able to catch up on some DVRed TV shows from the past month. I had the chance to get my butt kicked in mini-golf … twice. I was able to sit back and read a book. But most importantly, I was able to renew a connection to someone outside of work – something I rarely get to do when in my work-induced trance.
So a relaxing weekend brought me to a wonderful realization – there are relationships outside of work! Just because the time clock isn’t ticking doesn’t mean you can’t interact with people. I’ve neglected this concept for far too long … and I suspect many of my fellow workaholics have as well. So stop, take a moment to turn off the Blackberry, shut down the iPhone, and close the laptop. Have a real conversation with a real person who has nothing to do with your bottom line. You’ll thank yourself for it!
