Hey there <<First Name>>,

I don't know about you - but as a creative, my mind is usually buzzing 24/7 so taking a break (aside from weekends and well-in-advanced planned vacations) is usually never on my radar but....with my birthday and having family in town these past two weeks, I decided to make it a point to get off the grid* to enjoy everything and be fully present.

Now if you're like me and a good chunk of your business comes from social media, the thought of taking a break sounds like business suicide.

Well, I'm here to tell you it's not. Here's what I learned from going dark and how it can help you too.


*By getting off the grid I mean social  - Facebook, Instagram, Periscope, Snapchat. Taking a break from work is a whole other story but here I'm talking specifically about social media. 


People Won't Forget About You 

"If I don't post, blog, periscope, send a newsletter, email or tweet people will forget about me!"

I know this is a common fear - and I had it, too! - but it simply isn't true.

In fact, after my little social media sabbatical, I came back to more followers on Instagram, more views on my Facebook page (which I haven't even fully set up, yet!) and more emails in my inbox inquiring about my services than I normally do. 

So what gives?

I chalk it up to the all the hard work and consistency I'd done leading up to my social break plus the fact that people need to catch their breath. 

I don't know about you but when I'm inundated with content from people  - I eventually hit a point of overwhelm and instead of trying to find the time to catch up, I just move on.

Giving your clients or fans a moment to catch their breath (even miss you a little) is similar to the Planting Seed Concept. 

Whatever you're working on - you plant the seed (Put the idea out there), water it (Nurture your idea, check in, get feedback, promote it) and then walk away (Give it time to sprout and grow). 


The Biggest Bonus

Not matter what your creative gig is, you need to take breaks.

NO ONE is creative 24/7 and if that's the schedule you've been keeping - I have news for ya...

You're going to burn out. Maybe not tomorrow but it will happen eventually. 

So why not give yourself a break to just be, enjoy life and I bet you'll be surprised at how many new perspectives and ideas you have on your work while you're off enjoying life. I know I did. 

I came back from my little break with a ton of new ideas for my business - new blog post ideas, new additions for my course, Hello, Just Focus and new collaborations - all because I took time to step away from the constant buzz of social.

And yes, I kept track of all my new ideas and epiphanies just like I usually do - (on my cloud-based notes system) - but not posting on social or taking the time to respond to comments was a break that I didn't know I needed, until I took it. 


When You Get Back at It 

So say you've taken the break (or have it planned) and are ready to come back to the world of social. 

My biggest advice - jump back in slowly.

Chances are you’ve had a lot of ideas brewing over the past few days / weeks off and while you’re probably stoked to jump back in, take it slowly, map out what you want to do and focus. 

IT’s tempting to want to go all guns blazing on all your goals but trying to jam pack a few days/weeks of ideas and work into your first day back is insane.

Don’t give yourself a hard time if you can’t conquer the world in a day.

Remember the first day back at school after summer break? You did some work, caught up with your classmates, did a littel more work, went home...Yeah…treat it like that.

Ease into it or all that time off will have been a waste as you’ll be burned out again in no time. 
 

As always, I love hearing your stories so drop me a line and tell me how taking a break from social has helped or hurt your business. 

Talk soon,
Dom


Side note - Know someone who's got a passion that they keep putting on the shelf for someday? Be a friend and forward this along -  You never know when inspiration will strike...!