Last month, I talked about taking a break and why it’s important for your long-term health and success. Well…did you take a break? If you did, I bet you feel refreshed and may even be ready to get back to work. When we are operating in our purpose, sometimes we miss being in the mix of it all. Charging our mental batteries, however, promotes sustainability and strength to continue triumphing over the obstacles that come with business, so please make time for it.
One of the liberating benefits of being a businesswoman is deciding how to build a business that supports your lifestyle and your absence during breaks. In July, I mentioned having systems that support the start of your break but it’s just as important to have systems to support you returning from them.
You may not know what’s waiting on you when you get back to business and as a God-led businesswoman, you also know it’s possible to have ideas and pivots to share because God has shared a new revelation about your business.
How are you supposed to handle the unknown?
First, realize you are not alone and it’s not your job to find the solution (Proverbs 15:29). It’s only your job to be obedient to God’s Word. The very next thing you need to do is pray for direction. It can be as simple as:
“Lord, please help me implement these divine downloads you’ve given me for the glory of your Kingdom.”
If you’re still unsure about the direction, simply start moving the best way you know how and allow the Holy Spirit to course correct your decisions. When you return from breaks, your mind is not yet too noisy so it’s more likely you will soon hear a clear word from God.
If you are clear on the direction to go after praying, you can then decide your pace. Jumping back in is fine but it can be overwhelming depending on your personality or the type of business you have. Oftentimes, we don’t account for the time we may need to catch up on everything and this can cause us to wrongly believe that taking a break was the problem. Determine what getting back into the flow of business looks like for you and prioritize what to focus on each day so you aren’t swamped with demands. Monday could be catching up on emails, Tuesday could be answering team questions, and Wednesday could be for scheduling meetings. If taking a whole day to catch up isn’t realistic, you can carve out time blocks to allow a focus period out of each day. Before you know it, you’ll be caught up on everything from your break!
My last challenge for you before returning to your routine is to reflect on your break. What did you learn? What proved it wouldn’t self-destruct? How do you feel about yourself? Bring out your journal and write it all down and go back to it whenever you resist taking another break. We learned in Genesis that God took a break on the seventh day of creating this world we work in and even blessed us with the Sabbath that is a part of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11). Rest is not an option but a way of righteous living. So it’s time to show up more as the Godly woman that you are. Every day is a gift and I have faith that you will care for each one of them, whether it is time to work hard or play hard.
