Are you obsessed with your business? I think sometimes we work a home folks can become obsessed by it. There are often no clearly defined limits in space and time. I know I work at my business all day long in between caring for my mother, my family, my home, & errands. It’s not a 9 to 5 thing. It’s more like a 9 to 11, 1 to 3, 7 to 2 a.m. or something like that. It can be crazy. Even whn I not actually physically working at my business, I’m often thinking about it and strategizing about it my mind. I’m guessing it’s part of the entrepreneur mind set.

I realized how bad my obsession had gotten after Christmas. Now because one of my businesses is a craft business that specializes in personalized Christmas ornaments, of course I ‘m going to have my life taken over by my business during those few months before Christmas. I often work 18 hour days and even a few all nighters before a big craft show.

But this year, it didn’t lesson after Chrristmas. Instead of relaxing and taking a break, I still seemed to be in business obsession mode.  Yes, I’m a home business addict.  And I like it

The problem with this is you become one dimensional. We all need a well balanced life. I noticed I wasn’t doing fun things with my off line friends anymore. I wasn’t reading novels anymore (only business books). I hardly ever watch TV anyway but the few shows I do enjoy, I was forgetting about them and missing them.  Although I still took numerous mini breaks through out the day to go out in the back yard and chase around the dogs for a few minutes, I wasn’t taking them for long walks like I used to do.

I decided I had to make some changes so I’m forcing myself to have more of a life. After a recent out of town business conference, I took a week off to spend time with my best friend who lives in the same town the conference was in.  I am going to a movie once or twice a month. I’m making a point to get together with friends too once or twice a month for lunch, or to browse a bookstore and then sit in a coffee shop and read our treasures we got from the bookstore, or to play with our crafts. I also started reading novels again. My very favorite author is Ted Dekkerand oddly enough, his book that I’m reading (and loving!) now is called Obsessed

You know what’s strange? SInce I have been trying to take a little more time to have a personal life, instead of having my business suffer, I have been much more productive. So my advice to you is to examine your life. How much of it is consumed by your business? Try to sprinkle some of things that you love into your day. You will be surprised at how much happier you become!