Open Association of Landscape Industries
When you down tools
Our businesses occupy a large percentage of our time, being self employed is a different world from being employed. With most employed work when you clock off you can go home and relax until the next morning.
Self employment, running your own business, means many hours outside of the actual working day spent on paperwork, purchasing, quoting, or even just thinking about everything. I've also spent a lot of dreamtime at work too!
I relish this about running a business, I love being consumed by it, I think we all do really because we come onto LJN to share our experiences and knowledge too.
Having said that I also think it's important to have interests outside of work. I am in the process of restoring a Hayter Osprey lawnmower
http://www.landscapejuicenetwork.com/forum/topics/latest-project?xg...
It's not that removed from the business but it's a different activity that takes my mind off of work. I like machines and engineering there is a very satisfying feeling from getting something working again, or fixing something on your own just by thinking about it and applying ideas.
Apart from this I have a keen interest in tattoos (as you can probably gather from my photo) I have a couple of friends that own a studio and I spend ages getting a design together then I go over and spend a few hours getting the tattoo done and generally having a laugh, It's a great process, every couple of months I get an urge for another one. Getting to that point again now actually.
I also enjoy driving, on a Sunday we usually go out as a family for the day and the best bit for me is always the drive. I like going out for meals with my fiancée when we have a night off from the kids, I have an interest in history and astronomy which I have had since I was a child, There is a 15" dobsonian telescope which is the size of a wardrobe which occupies one of my sheds and is awaiting a refurbishment.
A lot of my time is spent on my computer, I'm a bit of a geek really, I also enjoy reading too although this is usually done at bedtime and i end up falling asleep after a couple of pages so one book can take months for me to read, this also results in me getting told off by my other half nearly every night for falling asleep with the light on... she loves that!
So what do you do to take your mind off of work and let off steam?
Try not to make me feel guilty by telling me how fit you all are, going to the gym, jogging etc. I get enough exercise at work, In the evening a light stroll to the fridge for a beer or two is all I can muster!
Add a Comment
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Comment by Paul Walton on June 23, 2012 at 11:27 -
Time off! What's that? :-)
Like everyone who's self employed it can be difficult to tear yourself away from work come the weekend. I've got design work to do and a quote for another job over the next couple of days to get done. However I always try to get a little me time and enjoy a really good meal, so just grabbing a paper and finding somewhere nice to go for a leisurely lunch is a great escape for me. My garden really needs doing and it's depressing looking out the window but I just can't be asked. Terrible I know, maybe next weekend!
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PRO Member Comment by Jen@A&J Owenwindows&gardens on June 23, 2012 at 7:32 -
Enforced day off for us yesterday. I've pulled a muscle in my back (not gardening) and Alan's had a nasty stomach bug.
Drove me crazy!
Even though we take Sunday's off I do get twitchy then. In fact I start work the second I wake up, making lists etc...
Least it shows we are committed to what we do. When I worked for someone else I just looked forward to the holidays :)
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PRO Member Comment by andy@ Doughty Garden Maintenance on June 22, 2012 at 22:09 -
Hey Stuart,
Thanks for that.
It's great to be doing work that you love! I can't imagine anything worse than having to get up every morning and go to a job that you hate. Must be terrible!!
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PRO Member Comment by andy@ Doughty Garden Maintenance on June 22, 2012 at 22:07 -
Hello jenny,
I don't work sundays either, It's important to have a day off. I've done 7 day weeks before (12 hour days aswell) in a previous life and it was a killer.
I have to admit I can't stand working in my own garden and only do so when I get "The Look" lol.
Thats a lot of animals by the way :-)
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PRO Member Comment by andy@ Doughty Garden Maintenance on June 22, 2012 at 22:04 -
Hello Brigitt,
Love your comment, I bet you carry a lot of sunshine ;-) you ought to bring some over here really :-)
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PRO Member Comment by andy@ Doughty Garden Maintenance on June 22, 2012 at 22:01 -
Hello Rowly, I know what you mean, I don't like not being at work, Sundays are a pain in the arse if I've not been allotted diy by the other half or we haven't gone out somewhere, I start yawning in front of the telly and i basically feel like crap. I don't think my body is used to doing nothing.
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PRO Member Comment by andy@ Doughty Garden Maintenance on June 22, 2012 at 21:58 -
Hello dgeorgea, It doesn't matter whether its paid work or voluntary. It's still work, You are an inspiration to us all with all the effort you put in to your community.
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PRO Member Comment by Stuart @ Eco Garden Maintenance on June 19, 2012 at 17:24 -
I love your blogs Andy (both of them).
I find it hard to switch off as horticulture, wildlife and conservation are all loves of mine. On an evening i play with my son for half an hour, have tea, do my invoices and come on LJN. Then it is bed time - i'm asleep before my head hits the pillow.
I play drums when i get any spare time. I've been in bands since i was eighteen but having a break from it at the moment.
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PRO Member Comment by Jen@A&J Owenwindows&gardens on June 18, 2012 at 7:24 -
Our leisure time is spent looking after cats, ponies and sheep plus doing our own garden. We like eating out also (Sunday lunch a favourite!) and yesterday had a trip out to Cosford airshow.
Due to caring for elderly relatives holidays are impossible but we do like to pinch the odd afternoon off - just because we feel like it! Good morale booster and no backlog to worry about and we never ever work Sunday's now - we don't even do quotes or fetch materials on a Sunday.
I have always found it very difficult to switch off. I also panic if there doesn't seem to be much in the diary and convince myself certain destitution will soon follow.....
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Comment by Brigitt Stevenson on June 18, 2012 at 0:56 -
Nice blog Andy !!!
I take each day as it comes and carry my own Sunshine, you never know what could happen :)))
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