Give Yourself a Break

Ask anyone who knows me, and they will probably be able to tell you how devoted I am to my business. I have set (and achieved!) some pretty high goals for myself over the last few weeks. We will be starting school up the day after Labor Day, so my current goal is to get the last of my stuff listed before then. I have it all split up into 2 piles - 1 pile per week.

But you know what? I am burnt out. I don't feel like cleaning more shoes right now. I don't feel like counting game and puzzle pieces. I don't feel like taking and editing pictures. We spent yesterday afternoon and evening at the beach, just relaxing and doing nothing. Literally doing nothing. I sat in my chair and watched the kids swim. Today, I'm painting a bedroom. And I'm enjoying this mini-break!

Of course, I'm not talking about staying away from eBay completely over the next few weeks, but I have a lot of other projects that need tended to, so eBay will not be the main focus of my days for a few days. I have worked really hard to build my store up to about 800 listings (I was over that, but darn it - stuff keeps selling - haha). The beauty of a built-up inventory is that I don't feel pressure right now to get stuff listed. I can coast on those 800 listing for a few days.

Don't overwork yourself to the point of burn-out. That sucks the fun out of this "job" very easily. When you find that you just aren't enjoying it, give yourself a couple days off! Do a fun project, spend a special day with your family doing something you don't usually do. As at-home business owners, it's so easy to put more hours into this than we should. Just because you're home doesn't mean you have to answer questions the instant your inbox dings. Just because you're home doesn't mean you have to be listing or cleaning or taking pictures. It's great to be your own boss, but don't be a slave driver. Take the afternoon off and relax. Read a book. Watch a movie. Paint a bedroom.

You deserve it.