That’s what we used to say to our kids when they were acting out. “You, go sit on the stairs and think about how you should behave.” It was our form of “time out.”

We all need some form of time out. Especially at this time of the year.

I’m just back from a time out. It was astoundingly restorative.

A colleague of mine invited me to join him as his guest for two days with his mastermind group, a small, elite collection of entrepreneurs and business professionals. Two days off the grid, away from emails and phone calls and text messages and alerts. Two days of real focus. Two days of brainstorming, troubleshooting, and collaborating. Two days generating powerful new ways of working in the world.

I railed against the invitation at first. I had so much on my plate. Appointments and conferences. Clients and a community to serve. A website nearly done. A launch I care about deeply. I couldn’t “afford” to take the time, I told myself.

Then I grabbed hold of my bad self. What would I tell you?

I’d tell you that working on your business is every bit as important as working in your business, if not more so. That stepping back from your work on a regular basis allows you to bring perspective to it; and enables you to come back to it renewed and revitalized. That nurturing yourself, allowing yourself some space, gives you the opportunity to re-charge and then return to serve in the world in a much more powerful and effective way.

I’d tell you that by stepping out of the fray and surrounding yourself with like-minded entrepreneurs and business professionals who want for you, who have your back, who cheer for your success re-invigorates you; that by tapping into the resources of a collective intelligence and wisdom is the most creative, visionary and dynamic way to take your own work to a whole new level.

I’d tell you that there is no better way to enter a New Year, no better way to honor yourself and the work you do, no better way to become more resourceful for the people you are meant to serve, than to take the time – the dedicated time – to rest, renew and re-create yourself; and from that place design with care and intent what the road ahead will be for you and for those you care for.

I had gotten myself into a bad state: Frustrated by projects and caught in the weeds. I told my bad self: “You, go sit on the stairs. Think about how you want to behave!”

Two days. Energy, vision, creativity, resilience restored.

This can be such a manic time of year. A New Year awaits you. Your clients, your customers, and those you love need you. Your very best you.

Take a time out.

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We’ve doing a free webinar training next week: How To Make 2017 Your Best Year Ever Without Stress or Overwhelm and Without Losing Focus and Momentum. It’s a great opportunity to take the time to mindfully create what you most want in the year ahead. Please join us. Go HERE to register and reserve your spot.