A No-Tech Sunday
Cellphones, computers, tablets. All of these are important tools that help you to run a successful fitness business. But technology can seep into every moment of your life and take over. Do you need to step away from email or give your smartphone a rest from time to time? Discover why you’ll be a better entrepreneur if you explore options for setting limits around technology and just say no to it some of the time.
Some fitness entrepreneurs are finding that saying no to digital devices every Sunday helps them find work-life balance.
For example, in January Carol Crincoli, owner of Pure Pilates in Providence, New Jersey, started unplugging on Sundays. “My husband and I needed [to set] some boundaries [for] the time we spend on our careers,” she explains. “When text and emails come through our phones, we feel compelled to respond and solve problems, and sometimes we get consumed by the messages. While we both need to stay connected on weekdays, we try to limit responses on Saturdays and now do nothing on Sundays. It can be challenging because I have only a cellphone at home, so when I pick up the phone on Sundays to answer or make a call, I have to resist the urge to check texts and emails.”
Gina Howe, co-owner of Core Essentials Fitness in Lewis Center, Ohio, also unplugs on Sundays. “Sundays are my only day off, and the only day our business is closed,” she says. “I prioritize that as family day. I want my kids to feel as though I am completely present with them at least this one day per week. I also prep foods on Sundays, which is essential for me due to my crazy weekday schedule. A tech-free Sunday helps me as a personal trainer as well. I step away so I don’t risk burnout as much, which makes me better at what I do.”
To read more about the benefits of taking a break from technology, please see “Mental Toughness Techniques for Peak Performance” in the online IDEA Library or in the June 2015 print issue of IDEA Fitness Journal. If you cannot access the full article and would like to, please contact the IDEA Inspired Service Team at (800) 999-4332, ext. 7.