You’ve been here a time or two (or ten) before: You worked hard to achieve a big goal and are left feeling utterly tapped out.
Your creativity is zapped. Your energy is flat. And your mojo has disappeared.
But business doesn’t just stop because you’re tapped out. You have clients to serve, revenue to generate, and blog posts to write!
So how do you keep the day-to-day running even when you’ve got nothing left to give?
Almost by accident, I stumbled upon a surprising answer.
It’s not fancy software or a trendy life hack. It’s not a special diet or Jedi mind trick.
It’s a small, simple change that anyone can make starting immediately.
Not only did this one trick reignite my creativity and restart my mojo, it also helped me double my productivity, so I could work less without making less. (Sweet!)
Curious what I did? Keep reading to find out.
Feeling Tapped Out
First, let me set the stage.
Earlier this year, I ran my biggest launch ever. After more than six months of planning and hard brain work, I was completely tapped out. Creatively, energetically, emotionally. All of it.
I had planned in a month of downtime with no new program creation. No new marketing. No new nothing.
All I would do would be to serve clients and keep the ship running. (I’ve gotten this down to a systematic science, and it’s relatively easy for me to do without taxing myself.)
But after my allotted month was up, I still had no creative juices to give to my business.
As you read before, I decided to postpone the Make 10k program, giving myself another month to recover. But even after that month was up, I still felt stagnant.
At this point, I couldn’t keep not working.
I needed to prep for Make It Work Online Accelerator and finalize the changes to the sales process for Get Your First 1000 Subscribers, as promised to our affiliates. We had backend projects to complete, plus I needed to begin work on the next launch cycle for Make It Work Online.
How was I supposed to do these things when I had nothing to give?
That’s when I accidentally stumbled upon one little trick that not only rebooted my mojo but also doubled my productivity.
Click to TweetStuck in a business rut? Try this trick to reboot your mojo and double your productivity.The Accidental Reboot
Earlier this year, my husband and I planned a two-week trip to Michigan in May. My cousin was getting married in Ann Arbor, and Paul wanted to revisit his childhood stomping grounds and see people he hadn’t seen in 25 years.
It would be a vacation for him and a work-ation for me. I’d still be actively serving my Make It Work Online and Accelerator clients while also working half-days and taking an extra-long weekend for the wedding and adventuring.
It was during the second week of our trip that I had the epiphany:
Changing my scenery and my routine was the reboot I needed.
Ideas began flowing, I felt inspired to massively up level my MIWO Accelerator program, and I was excited about business again.
I was getting more work done in less time. I felt more focused, twice as productive, and “on it” in ways I hadn’t felt in months!
It felt like magic… and all I did was go to Michigan.
Then it got even better…
An Even Bigger Aha
More than just getting my mojo restarted, there was an even bigger aha for me.
Here’s what I mean.
It seems like we get all sorts of messages (from the media and from peers and colleagues) that as entrepreneurs we need to enjoy a luxurious life, splurge on extravagances, and jetset around the world.
But I’ve never been much of a luxury-seeker or splurger, and I had been led to believe that was a character flaw!
However, on this work-ation, we didn’t go anywhere fancy. (East Lansing, Michigan, is hardly a bucket list destination.)
We didn’t stay anywhere fancy. (My husband’s aunt let us stay in her half-furnished, unoccupied house.)
We didn’t do anything extravagant. (We went to the movies, played mini golf, ate a lot of Chinese food with his family, and danced our hearts out with my two-year-old nephew at my cousin’s wedding.)
And it was the exact remedy my stagnant energy needed.
Following Through
When we returned home, it was so clear how working from home (which I love) had also gotten me into a massive rut.
Since we skipped our two-month California trip this year, the rut got pretty deep without me even realizing it. Well, now I see it clearly!
That’s why I’ve decided to double-down on efforts to change my scenery, change my routine, and try new things.
They don’t need to be fancy or extravagant. They just need to be different. And I’m already getting started.
Since returning from Michigan, I’ve…
- traveled out of town for my nephew’s second birthday
- traveled to Oregon wine country for a long weekend to celebrate my dad’s 70th birthday
- signed up for a Taiji class (exercise my still-ailing body can handle!)
- planned a week off for my 39th birthday and 16 year anniversary
- mapped out a road trip from Michigan to Oregon, hitting some of the cool spots we’ve never seen (16 days, 16 years… my husband’s idea!)
- committed to taking two months in California next January and February (Want to meet up? Good chance I’ll be hosting a retreat or two while I’m there. Get on the waiting list here.)
I’m also scheming…
- two more trips for this fall to meet up with some of my favorite people
- occasionally working from a coffee shop (though I really do love working at home, so I’m admittedly on the fence about this one)
- how to change up how I run and manage my work days
- forcing myself to do more scary things in business because I always have ahas and grow when I do
And I’m just getting started!
Now that I see how easily I can get into a work rut, I’m committed to not letting it happen (as much).
Plus, who doesn’t love doubled productivity, stronger focus, and more inspiration in their business?!
How About You?
Tell me! Is your routine keeping your business stuck in a rut?
What’s one small change you can make immediately to shake things up and restart your mojo?
What tips do you have for staying inspired in your business?
I’d love to hear from you!
I couldn’t have clicked on the link in your email fast enough to learn this productivity tip. 🙂
And it’s so true! I just got back from 3 short days at the beach. I wasn’t completely on vacation, and I was definitely mourning that fact while there.
But coming back to my desk at home, to my general routine, I found I was refreshed and SO PUMPED with new ideas and the motivation to implement them!
It wasn’t a restful time when I got to “unplug,” but it worked. Currently trying to figure out how to do it again. 🙂
Thrilled to hear that even a little mental break and some beach time helped you reboot. Good to know, right?! Yes — plan some more down time, half work days, and a little hooky. 😉
Loved this – and realized I did this without knowing 2 weeks ago. I usually get up at 520 and go to work – but I took a week off just to sleep in and put business on the back burner. Coming back I was totally rested – AND refreshed!
I like the idea of being more conscious with this… and OR wine country weekends!
PS: Put me on the wait list for the retreat! (I followed the link and it just took me to your FAQ page).
Yay for rested and refreshed!
Yes, the link goes to my FAQ+Contact page since we don’t have anything official or formal yet. Just a note into us to add you on the waiting list. I’ll take care of it!
AH! This is so true for me right now! A change of scenery is SO important to my creativity and productivity. I haven’t changed my scenery much since I cut WAY back on my Starbucks habit, and I LOVE working from home too!
Just last night I realized that seeing the same scenery has been making me grumpy in the evening. Work at home, get kids, give them dinner, sit on the couch.
Thankfully I have some vacation planned, nothing fancy, visiting family for a week in Toronto, but I just decided to extend it by another week or so for a road trip to Boston. I’m excited for the productivity reboot!
Love that self-awareness and how even the amazingness of working from home can backfire on us!
Enjoy your trip to Toronto and have fun in Boston! Take a ride on the Swan Boats and eat some good Italian food for me (#notketo 🙂 ) in the North End!
I took half a day off, went to my fave library, walked around the town square, shopped at a health food store and returned home feeling GOOD! Sometimes you don’t even have to travel further than your local library for s change of scene. I think it’s about mixing things up to refresh…like a good cocktail!!
Fantastic! Simply jetting around town can give you the boost and reboot as well!
This is so true for me and I always thought it was a flaw that I could not sit still in same place for long. Working at home as “brought that home” to me. I have planned now coffee shop days, library and living room vs. basement times. And when that gets old I will switch that up. With vacation time in between.
Thanks for reminder and tip that says to me that finding your missing mojo does not have to be expensive!
xx
Fun idea to move around the house! There are usually two days a month where I work from my bed. Something about it feels guilty and indulgent… and I get tons done!
Now this is an idea I’m inline with, haha. I’ve always lovvvvved travelling, purely for the change in scenery. And now you’ve confirmed that will help me in my business Jenny – THANK YOU! 😉
You’re welcome! Yes, traveling and changing your scenery can be hugely helpful (though you do have to go back to work for it to work!). Have fun!!
OMG I can totally relate. Working from home is a blessing most days (my own schedule – evenings/nights since that’s when my husband works, missing the horrendous traffic) but some days I miss chatting with co-workers at the coffee-maker and work Christmas parties (yup, that time of year!).
I find it more challenging during fall/winter when it gets dark at 4pm, but in summer I often dropped hubby off at work then spent 2 hours sitting at the beach, using my phone to listen to podcasts or replying to emails and Facebook posts/messages listening to the waves lapping at the shore and watching the osprey circle lazily overhead.
Glad you found a way to cope too!