Time Out | Monday Morning Musing #24

I’ve just returned from a one week holiday in Turkey. A much needed break and a week of firsts. It was my first time in Turkey, my first time at an all inclusive resort (yes, unlimited food, drink, sleep), and my first proper sun soaked escape in 12 months. And wow, was it overdue.

With a property portfolio to manage, a growing finance brokerage, a YouTube channel and podcast (Property People - click here to subscribe if you haven’t already!), plus a property/business Mastermind (another shameless plug click here for more info), and of course, a young family to look after…time can feel like a luxury.

It’s easy, in the middle of all that, to sacrifice your own health, both physical and mental in order to keep every plate spinning. The biggest problem I have though is not the amount of things I have to do, it's that I genuinely love everything I do. I love living and I love each part of my work as it all plays a role in my growth and purpose, and they all mostly interconnect beautifully. So scaling back isn’t something I feel ready to explore, at least not right now.

Instead, I make it work by surrounding myself with a strong team that supports all these moving pieces. It’s not without challenges, but it works, and things keep moving forward.

What I’ve learned and what I encourage you to consider is the difference between finding time and making time. “Finding” time is often an excuse; it’s passive. “Making” time, on the other hand, is intentional and non-negotiable. As I reminded an old friend during a recent trip to Durham (he played football for the first time in years and he stated he wanted to try again playing regularly but struggled to “find” time), time won’t just appear you have to make it.

I make time to play football once a week, swim at least twice, and I’ll be adding one 20 minute home HIIT session into the routine to keep the body ticking. But honestly, I haven’t been as good at resting the mind. I have done lots of meditation in the past but rarely “find” the time to do it. Even on holiday, I had to handle a few unavoidable things. I operated on a reduced schedule, and thanks to the solid teams I’ve built, the most important matters were handled without stress. The overall holiday though really helped calm my mind and help me think about things differently.

I recently posted on my social media platforms about how much I love the great British outdoors but I don’t get out there nearly enough and sometimes a weekend away just does not suffice. A full week (or two) away is the only way to clear your head, reflect, and reconnect with the spark that made you start in the first place.

Another holiday will be booked soon, watch this space for where and when.

Until then, make time not just for your goals, but for yourself.

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