The Business Coach with Laura Murphy: Holiday Blues

Answer: “First of all congratulations on taking a break. Unlike some business owners I know, you’ve got things set up so that you can get away without it affecting the business. And I think that’s partly the problem for you.

When you set up a successful business you become completely focused to the exclusion sometimes of everything else.

Whilst in practice you physically distance yourself from day-to-day operations as it grows and become more strategic, unconsciously your mind is still completely engrossed with it. Then, when you take a holiday suddenly your mind has to do something else.

That disruption plays out in three ways – a desire to get back, a sulk because you’re not essential, or a realisation that actually, you don’t want to do it anymore.

You have to discover whether your mind is sulking or whether now is the time to do something new. If it’s a sulk, then it’s easy to resolve by mentally giving yourself a kick (and the process of deciding which one it is will act as that kick).

The next year you pre-empt the sulking by putting the holiday on the same level as taking time out for a conference or training session. Your brain will accept you are slotting in an R&R session so that you can return energised.

As for the other scenario, well that takes more thought and planning so find someone you can trust to talk it through and decide what you want to do for your future.”

Laura is an organisation development specialist and executive coach with mtc2 ltd.  To solve your problem email [email protected] Tweet @WayfinderWoman Names and details have been changed to protect confidentiality.

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