"It’s a LIFESTYLE business, right? So get a life."

"It's a LIFESTYLE business, right? So get a life." 

During my last business course that quote that really grabbed me. It was about why I created the business in the first place. My lifestyle. 

I'm sure my life style is much like yours- kids, significant other, house, cooking, cleaning, pets, work. It is hard to find time for the "ideal lifestyle" that you dream of. Days are filled with dreams. Not dreams like when you were a kid- but dreams like "when I'm done with this, then things will be easier."

Is that why you stared your creative journey? To constantly work? To half-ass every dinner because any energy you have NEEDS to go into your work. Right? If not you feel guilty. Guilty for not having time/money/energy and once you make it BIG all of the guilt and time will be worth it. Right?

What are the things you love to do. Not just randomly- but every day.

What would you do if you had an extra 7 hours.

Would you sip your coffee in the morning, instead of chug it down while reading e-mails.

Would you go jogging? Hiking? Riding horses? Gardening? Painting? Take bubble baths or just take a freakin nap?

For the last 4 years (I am SO not kidding) every couple of months, I go " Ya know what, I'm going to wake up an hour early, so I can drink my coffee, do yoga, mediate and actually put real clothes on and do my hair and make up- all before everyone gets up."

At no point in those 4 years have I done that. Even once. 

Why? Because I'm tired, I stay up at night to finish up work, and considering that 9-12 PM is my "high traffic" time on the website- you do too.

So I am not longer going to attempt to wake up super early, but create my lifestyle today. Right now. I want to go to lunch with friends, do yoga and not look like I rolled out of bed before talking my daughter to school. Take time for me AND my family.

Where to start? Stop giving people who don't deserve your time and energy, your time and energy.

• Is there a reason someone isn't begging you to be their photographer? Drop them. Gush on your current clients and make each one value your business. 
• Make sure people "pay to play," you aren't Walmart- you are a hands on, custom photography service. 
• Stop trolling Facebook groups for "deals, sales, DIY projects." Sign up for newsletters and sales will be hand delivered to you so when your ready to shop, shop. (this is the link for my newsletter, should you not be a part of it already :) 
• Invest your time as well as you invest your money. Your business takes away from your life, time with your children, family and fun. If you aren't going to make that time worth it, no one is.

I want to hear your thoughts on this. Are you feeling guilty by spending too much time working? What is your biggest "Time Sucker?" I want to hear and we can all get our priorities straight!