I have at least two overseas trips every year because I’m inspired by Tim Ferriss’s concept: mini retirement, i.e., each year Tim has one or two holidays when he switches off his mobile phone and enjoys life completely. Obviously, Tim has a team that can manage his company when he is overseas, but my situation is different – I don’t have a team because I’m a self-employed freelance writer. Fortunately, I can manage my schedule as I don’t have a boss. If you are an online entrepreneur or a freelancer, I’m sure you will find this article very helpful because I’m going to share my energy and time management tips with you. Nevertheless, if you have a full-time job, this article will still be relevant – you can use your annual leave and make interesting plans!
I have at least two overseas trips every year because I’m inspired by Tim Ferriss’s concept: mini retirement, i.e., each year Tim has one or two holidays when he switches off his mobile phone and enjoys life completely. Obviously, Tim has a team that can manage his company when he is overseas, but my situation is different – I don’t have a team because I’m a self-employed freelance writer. Fortunately, I can manage my schedule as I don’t have a boss. If you are an online entrepreneur or a freelancer, I’m sure you will find this article very helpful because I’m going to share my energy and time management tips with you. Nevertheless, if you have a full-time job, this article will still be relevant – you can use your annual leave and make interesting plans!
- Focus on what you are good at.
I know my zone of genius is writing, so whenever I go on an overseas trip, I would bring my laptop with me for some spontaneous writing. For me, writing doesn’t feel like hard work because I love it.
Actually, I’ve outsourced some aspects of my work/life so that I can focus on my zone of genius and save more time for what’s important to me. For example, I’ve hired an accountant who has been doing taxes for me for nine years. I also hired laundry services and meal preparation services previously when I was writing books for my clients.
Please don’t get me wrong. I’m definitely not saying you should also hire a team to help you with your work or your life. I mean you’d better start to think about how you can do less in certain areas of your life so that you can do what you are good at even more. Here are some ideas for you to consider:
- Ask yourself, “Does this actually have to be done?” (If it doesn’t have to be done, don’t do it. For example, I don’t wear makeup anymore. If I have to meet with a client, I would probably just wear lipstick – that’s all. Not wearing makeup saves a lot of time every day.)
- Ask yourself, “Does this actually have to be done right now?” (If something doesn’t have to be done now, it’s okay to postpone it. For instance, many people go shopping on Black Friday in November in order to buy Christmas gifts, but getting all presents ready on one day is too stressful for me. Therefore, I don’t do all of my Christmas shopping on one day.)
If you are able to implement the above-mentioned strategies, I’m sure you can find sufficient time for at least one overseas trip every year!
“Knowing your boundaries & your priorities gives you so much more time and energy to do what you really want!”
