Avoid Burnout by Scheduling Non-Focus Time

FOCUS | BURNOUT | MULTI-PASSIONATE ENTREPRENEUR

It was Saturday morning and I woke up feeling groggy. It had been a long week at my day job, managing a team, and having uncomfortable conversations with clients.

But all that was behind me. It was the weekend! Finally, I could spend an entire day on my own content instead of being clocked in for my 9-5.

I made some coffee, opened my laptop, looked at my to-do list. A fog washed over me. I took another sip of coffee, hoping it would help.

It didn’t. I was unmotivated, exhausted, and couldn’t seem to get started.

Tears were ready to make their entrance as I reminded myself that the weekends are the only time I have to fully dedicate myself to my business. I took a shower, hoping that would thrust me into action.

I toweled off, got dressed, and still didn’t feel the energy I had been looking forward to all week.

Finally, I gave in. I sat on my couch and gave my pup Chai some snuggles. As I surrendered to relaxation, I realized that the mental fatigue I was feeling couldn’t be overridden by coffee or a shower. Trying to push myself to keep working (when what I really needed was a break) was useless.

Then, I had a lightbulb moment! (don’t you love it when that happens?)

Saturdays are going to be my non-focus time.

Now, instead of feeling guilty that I don’t have the energy to dedicate Saturday mornings to writing articles, or creating content, I strategically schedule non-focus time on days where the energy isn’t flowing.

In this post, I’ll share how you can integrate non-focus time into your schedule to avoid burnout, tap into inspiration, make space for other passions, and ironically- focus.

What is Non-Focus Time?

Non-focus time is essentially “free time” with a strategy behind it.

It’s intentional time that you schedule to not do any work and instead enjoy relaxing activities that put you in a flow state.

During this time you should feel a sense of freedom, knowing that you don’t have to do any work and you don’t have to feel guilty about that in any way. Ironically, non-focus time can be one of the most productive systems you can implement into your schedule, and it’s key for avoiding burnout.

How Does Non-Focus Time Help with Burnout?

Non-focus time has many benefits. Here’s a quick list:

It prevents burnout by ensuring that you’re taking breaks and allowing your mind to rest and reset

It encourages intuitive insights and inspiration. Inspo is likely to strike when your mind is at ease.

Staying creatively inspired keeps burnout at bay!

For multi-passionate creatives, non-focus time is a great way to make room for other passions like playing an instrument or writing poetry.

Non-focus time promotes a healthy balance between work and rest, which is essential for optimal creativity.

Scheduling non-focus time enhances your ability to focus when you get back to your work, without feeling overwhelmed.

When to Schedule Non-Focus Time

The most important element of non-focus time is that you first take note of when your energy is low. You want to catch this before burnout strikes.

For me, it’s Saturdays after having worked my 9-5 all week. After realizing that it’s hard to get motivated on Saturday mornings, I was able to be proactive about making that my non-focus time.

For you, it might be a certain time of day rather than a full day. Your non-focus time is unique to you, so become sensitive about the ebbs and flows of your own energy.

Non-Focus Time Recap

The concept of non-focus time is simple, but can easily be overlooked as a multi-passionate entrepreneur. It’s tempting to want to hustle and “grind it out” even when we feel creative exhaustion creeping in.

By observing your natural energy cycles and being intentional about scheduling non-focus time, you are creating balance, allowing room for inspiration to arise, preventing burnout, and in the long run, increasing your ability to focus.

P.S. Want to learn my full 3-Part Focus Framework for multi-passionates? Check out my e-book, Finally Focused.