Okay, who put Tetris on my iGoogle home page?
oh right… that was me!
Do you have those moments when your brain is just screaming for a break? Where do you go? What do you do to give your mind a rest?
Well for me since I am on the computer most of the day, I tend towards my iGoogle home page and play Tetris. Sigh! Do you have any idea on how many times this has been taken off and put back on? There was a time when it was Frogger (pretty hard to go wrong with going retro in your game choices). Pacman and Ms Pacman have made an appearance even.
As important as it is to give yourself a break, you do need to make sure it is a break! I’m sorry but going and checking out Twitter and Facebook do not always count. When you meant just to take a couple minutes break… on Twitter and Facebook a couple hours can fly by.
Personally that is what I love about Tetris, it is a problem to solve but at the same time my brain can partially shut down and rest. Work on a problem, let my fingers direct the silly little blocks and feel excitement when you just about reach the top and yes! you find just the perfect piece and your take a step back from the brink.
When you are able to focus on something like Tetris, your brain is able to let go for just a few minutes with relief some days. This is when creativity can start to flow, answers to questions, solutions and new ideas start to pop up. The unconscious part of your brain says, finally! Thanks for letting me have a turn, here are a few things I have been thinking about.
What do you do when you just need a break and don’t have much time?
Oh and before I forget, check out by-art.com, a whole slew of games to play 
My favorite is Mahjong in case you were wondering.
Small business owners and boundaries – Why
Yep, boundaries. That is something I have been thinking about and just recently read a blog post by a colleague that got me thinking.
As a small business owner it is so easy to get caught up in the day to day details and forget to come up for air. Then there is technology. Technology that allows just about anyone to find you anywhere, anytime…. personally I love technology, but to a point.
There comes a time when you have to put your foot down and tell yourself, hey it is okay to take some time off! I’m finding the more I give myself permission to do that, the more I get done and the the chance to get re-energized for the next project.
Why boundaries:
1) Give your brain a break: That is one of the things I think is hardest for entrepreneurs – turning off the brain and let it start to quiet down. Allowing the flurry of ideas slow down so you are not constantly thinking and analyzing at 1000 miles per hour (no wonder so many of us get insomnia!)
2) Get a fresh perspective: When you start putting boundaries in place you start to see your business, and your role in it, from a different point of view. You start seeing the big picture again and get reconnected with your goals and vision for your business.
3) Enjoy your family: Putting boundaries on your time at work (whether that is a home office our you leave the house to get to the office) allows you to relax, get some down time with the family and have some fun. When you are fully present with your family (and friends too!) and not constantly consumed with business, your connections with them grow and deepen.
There is nothing so frustrating like waiting for someone to FINALLY get off the computer so you can go run those errands you have been putting off, go to that family outing you have been planning, go play at the beach, play a game with the kids….. sound familiar!
If you notice the boundaries I am talking about here are self-imposed, boundaries that you need to place on yourself. This can be oh so hard to do, but sharing from personal experience is oh so rewarding!
What areas do you need to start putting boundaries in your business life?
Some days you just need to go with the flow
Have you ever had that day (or days) where no matter how hard you push forward you can’t get there? Your mind is distracted, running in a 1000 directions at once, your eyes keep falling shut and nothing is getting done.
Usually I push through it, know that eventually I’ll break through that wall and come out the otherside, today… not so much. I’m honoring what my body and brain re trying to tell me and know that in order to give my clients my best today that I need to go with the flow.
So what do you do on days like these?
Getting started in online video
I’m having fun with a service called Animoto, especially for those of us who do not like to get in front of the camera. Yup, working my way up to that one . For now having fun creating videos for The Blue Jeans VA and for my clients. I look forward to sharing more.
What is a creative entrpreneur?
You may have noticed my tag line and wondered what does that mean.
Simplifying the lives of creative entrepreneurs one task, one project at a time.
One of the best definitions I have found of creativity is from the healthline.com website:
The ability to create inventions, produce works of art, or solve problems using an original, novel, or unconventional approach.
That last part “solve problems using an original, novel, or unconventional approach”. Now doesn’t that sound like a quiticential quality of an entrepreneur?
As small business owners we develop the need to offer our skills, knowledge and experience in an environment other than a corporate one. It is a pull that cannot be ignore, the opportunity to present what we do best in a unique and creative way.
If you haven’t had a chance to yet I would highly recommend checking out the film that is currently in production called Shine. This movie is a collection of stories from entrepreneurs, why they are entrepreneurs. I’m not sure that you will see a more impressive collection of creative and inspiring people.
Enjoy the trailers to the movie, they will make you smile, chuckle and probably realize, yep that’s me!yes
