Here’s the one thing I wish someone had told me when I started my business: take a day off. Like, an actual day off. Every week. Put it in the calendar, guard it like it’s a client meeting, and actually show up for it.
That’s what I call the “fishing friend” idea.
And no — you don’t have to fish. Your fishing friend might be a hiking buddy, a cycling mate, someone you walk dogs with, or a pal who drags you out on a boat whether you feel like it or not. The whole point is that it’s a standing plan you don’t bail on. Someone who gets you away from your desk and keeps you there.
I say this as someone who had absolutely zero excuse not to do it. I lived in Calgary — mountains, rivers, forests, and foothills all within easy driving distance — and still somehow ended up at the office on days I should have been outside. Was I being productive? Honestly, no. I was just there, spinning my wheels and calling it work. Meanwhile, perfectly good days were passing by that I could’ve spent wading in a mountain stream, watching beavers on a riverbank, or sprinting around a field after my Jack Russells.
Here’s the thing about working too much: it sneaks up on you. What starts as dedication slowly becomes habit, and habit becomes guilt — that creeping feeling that if you’re not at your desk, something is falling apart. Spoiler: it usually isn’t. The days I dragged myself in when I should have taken a break didn’t move the needle for me or my business. They just wore me down a little more.
So think about who your fishing friend could be. A standing weekly date with someone who’ll hold you to it. Block the day, get outside, and let your brain do something completely different for a few hours.
Do it for yourself. Do it for the people around you who’d rather have a rested, recharged version of you than a burned-out one who’s technically always available.
