A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of traveling to Boulder, Colorado to meet with my partners at Copyblogger Media. As we do usually once a year, we find a tranquil place to spend a few days of vision casting and strategic planning.
The past two years have been a really exciting time for me as an entrepreneur, but they certainly haven’t been without cost — 16 hour days, late nights and overall just a lot of work.
While I wouldn’t trade my current situation in for the world, I did go into that meeting with a personal agenda that needed to be addressed.
Honesty.
I needed to be honest and share that I was feeling worn out and beat up. Tired of working so many hours and that something had to change or I was going to crash soon.
What I Really Needed That Morning
As I suspected, I wasn’t the only one from our team who felt the same way — so we came together and developed a plan to ensure that none of us would burn out.
On paper that sounded great, and I was really excited to move forward with it.
I woke up the last morning and decided to throw on my headphones and go trail running in Boulder Canyon. This shouldn’t be a surprise, as anyone who follows me on Twitter knows that I’m an avid runner and loves the outdoors.
I spent an hour and a half ascending the mountains and ran amidst some really awesome scenery. In that time, I disconnected with work and left it all behind.
I sucked the marrow out of life and lived deliberately, which is something that Henry David Thoreau has been encouraging us all to do for nearly 200 years.
What I Really Learned That Morning
Though I wasn’t surprised at how much I enjoyed my trail run that morning, there was one part of my experience that came rather unexpected to me.
I learned that with very little effort and a simple plan, I could spend some time away from work and find the energy I had been searching for.
It’s amazing how inspiring moments in nature can be — that spending time in the mountains and listening to the running streams for even 90 minutes could impact my life so much.
When I got back to my hotel, I shared with my other partners about my experience. That I had literally just spent some time being, and not doing.
What I Took Away From That Morning
It’s not practical for me to fly to Colorado every time I feel tired and want some emotional rest. While I’d love to live in a place like Boulder or Park City, it’s not in the cards for me.
But I did find out that I could escape from my work for a short period of time and come back revitalized — in other words, a better and more productive person.
There’s been a number of instances within the past two years where I’ve known how worn out I’ve been, but have failed to do anything about it.
I ran to the bridge, but for whatever reason, never crossed it.
Too many times in life we know what we should do, but fail to do it. We convince ourselves that we don’t have time, or that we’ll be set back if we cross the bridge.
Let me assure you that is a lie.
I can guarantee you that the hour and a half when I left work behind was an investment. I became much more productive by tenfold. A hundredfold. Maybe even a thousandfold.
A Personal Challenge for You
Today I am encouraging you to spend some time and figure out what your magical trail is.
What is your Boulder Canyon? What gives you the rest you need, or brings back the energy that you have been desperately looking for?
Feel free to share in the comments below.
And if you don’t have an answer, throw on some running shoes and find one.
Great post, Brian! The hardest part for me is when I throw on my running shoes and still think about work and what I need to do. It’s like I’m still at my desk, but with better scenery.
I accept your challenge and will find my Boulder Canyon
Normally I run on my treadmill, in my basement with my phone nearby — which means (for me) I’m not letting go. When I went to Park City last month it was the first time I felt liberated in a very long time, and this was reiterated when I went to Boulder.
Let me know if/when you find your Boulder Canyon.
Hey Brian, great story. I think my magical place was always my hometown in Poland. I don’t have any plans to move back but I know that’s the place where I can go and escape from my current life for a short time. Hopefully, I’ll make this trip soon and recharge my batteries.
You definitely deserve time away after all you’ve done the past two years. I know how hard you work, and would be the first person to volunteer to drive you to the airport.
Just say the words.
Ha, thanks Brian! I know I can always count on you
I live in Portland so there’s a lot of out door opportunities like the one that you found in Denver. It does rain here a lot, so when all else fails, I find my yoga mat! Thanks for sharing Brian!
Yeah, I’d say with the Cascades at your disposal you’re in a good spot to hit the trails. #envious
Excellent article Brian. I think that God wired us this way. We need to stop and enjoy his creation and Him… which for some reason recharges our batteries. Thanks for sharing your story… I needed to hear it, even though I get it
Good stuff Patrick, nice to not only appreciate the post, but to know you get it.
Followed your lead and went out into the woods just before the colors were through. Made a short video with my iPhone. Crank up the resolution on your big monitor, sit back and enjoy the colors
Hope you enjoy it. Thanks again Brian! http://youtu.be/zSW7IrsRTIM
Awesome post! I’m blessed to live in Utah (not in Park City but close). I’m recharged any time I sit by water, the sound of it is so grounding and soothing, even if it’s just a fountain. I need to drive or hike up more canyons. It’s shameful that I don’t do that more often…I mean really I just need to do it more often. I’m always admiring them from the city. Reading and losing myself in a good book also helps me to recharge. This summer I kind of lost myself in the busy-ness of business too and I’m trying to find small ways to keep a hold of myself and what’s important. Thanks for the inspirational post and the beautiful pictures!
Nature is the easiest place to disconnect and clear your mind. We have a walking trail near us that I can jump out on for 20-30 minutes for a quick break. I also recently purchased a stand-up paddleboard (SUP), and being out on the local lake with no one else around and nothing to do but focus on my balance and the peaceful surroundings is very healing.
I also recommend yoga (I prefer a class with an instructor). I thought I’d be tired and too relaxed after yoga, but I end up feeling very energized and often work quite late on the nights I go to yoga.
As always, thanks for sharing, Brian.
For whatever reason, I’m more of a mountain/woods person that I am a lake/ocean person. But that’s what makes the world so great, all of us are different.
Well….you know what I’m going to say, but I’ll say it anyway – knitting.
That’s my meditative/contemplative/recharge time, and it’s the reason I keep several skeins of my favorite alpaca near each of my computers. It’s the less normal equivalent of keeping a photo of your favorite trail nearby!
I love my job, but when any of us ignore the totality of who we are as people, we become less effective at our jobs. Glad you were able to get some recharge time to find some balance!
If I took up knitting, it’d have to be nature knitting. Being 5 feet away from my phone or a computer would be too tempting. Which, of course, defeats the purpose.
Well, ok. You brought it up, so I’ll come clean.
I *have* taken my knitting out for a walk in the woods. More than once. I even have a picture of me knitting in 3 feet of snow, balanced on a log by the campfire.
THAT’s what I’m talking about.
This sounds good but I have to say you are late to get there..Its well known for years that hard working people need to take time, find a way and recharge each day or at least weekly..often as possible..Really.
What concerns me is it takes Studiopress a long time to push updates out..for any part form framework to theme.
You and your companies may be better off hiring more well qualified people to help you continue to offer the best set of tools for WordPress available.
Please do not consider this a criticism. I am a satisfied customer of Studiopress and Copy bloggers premise..Its just you point out 16 hour days..That would concern anyone..37 signals rework method might be a thought..You may need to step back a bit and manage more..Don’t forget this:
You are a hero that changed the way WordPress themes are viewed and used. (The father of premium themes if you will *Revolution) and if you burn out..I would be sad..:(
I think a lot of people would be sad..You and your company lead the way and we really need this! So be good to yourself!
Thanks
Beth
Beth – the whole time I was reading Brian’s post and comments, the “Rework” book and Jason Fried kept popping into my head. We all come to a realization of ourselves on our own timeline. Brain, thanks for sharing and inspiring your readership to think about ways to reboot ourselves. It is all about the journey!
What a great reminder.
Running has long been my sanity-saver. Since moving to Alabama 2 years ago, I’ve been without the ‘perfect’ running spot, which has been a struggle for me. But I’m finally letting go of the quest for the external perfect spot, and remembering that it’s what happens on the inside/internal as I do it.
I’ve been struggling to get back outside after the experience I had in Boulder. I want to say “It’s Colorado, any other experience won’t live up.”
It’s tough, but still a work in progress.
Good point — it’s that “mountaintop experience” (literally, in your case
It seems to be human nature to come down from that ‘high’ and feel like you are in the valley again.. Everything is compared to that moment and it all seems pale in comparison, at first. But you’ll find it in new and other unexpected places!! (as will I!!!)
Great post Brian! In the midst of all of the “to-dos” that we must tackle every day, it’s nice to be reminded to invest in ourselves and not just “the business”. My Boulder Canyon is most definitely the beach.
Living in Central Florida, I LOVE to go to beach and either stare out at the ocean, read a good book, or listen to great music. Staring out at such a huge body of water reminds me of just how great and awesome God is. Also, I live just a short drive from Disney World. So we hear the Disney fireworks every night like clockwork. Those definitely serve as nice reminders that people are out enjoying life and having fun and that I need to regularly do the same.
It’s counterintuitive to think that spending time away from work would be beneficial.
I’m learning that it really comes down to being able to be more efficient — in other words, working more doesn’t always result in being more productive.
Central Florida? Lucky you. We’ll be down at Disney again in October.
I’m a very urban creature (seriously – we go out camping and I find the need every two days to find the nearest city and just go see *people* and *traffic*, I’m odd that way) and, even though I love swimming and have gorgeous beaches in my country (Portugal), what really does it for me is music.
I’m lucky enough that my best friend is also my favourite musician, and I find the time to go out when he’s playing and just let the concert revitalise me. I do take my laptop with me, but only because I invariably end up staying at his place and then working there the following day (which is where I’m at now). This past month and a half I hadn’t managed to find the time and, for someone used to it at least once a week, it was taking its toll – the gig last night did wonders for me!
Oh and, though not as important as music, games. Video games, board games, roleplaying games, the whole family plays and it’s a few hours’ worth of sheer fun.
I was just contemplating if I really had time for a mt bike ride before a conference call, and then I read your post. I will make time. Thanks for the reminder.
Always make time.
That’s what I’m beginning to learn.
Great post Brian. I’ve been on that very trail a half dozen times myself. It’s an amazing place but everyone can certainly find their own trail right outside their front door. Keen, the sandal and shoe maker, just did a campaign for Worldwide Recess Day that I think resonates well with your post. They asked people to #take10 to get outside and play. Here are the submission which I thought might help some people find inspiration for their own trail: http://keen.postano.com/
Awesome link, thanks so much for that Tim.
What I wouldn’t give to be a member of your awesome team. Your all pro’s in my book and I have bought everything you sell and I have never regret it. No plans to start up StudioPress in Belgium? LOL:)
Hey Robby – that’s so great to hear, thanks for being such a loyal customer of ours!
Great looking pics and a very cool looking location.
Patrick
Loved this post!
My trail is also right out my front door. I’m in northern Utah in farming country so the path I follow is lined with sagebrush, hay fields and a horse or two with the mountains only a few miles away.
I started running again this summer and it has seriously changed my life. I feel better, I’m more productive and I’m actually seeing how beautiful it is under the big blue sky. (I even splurged on a new camera just so I can take awesome pictures of all this nature stuff while I’m out there.)
Another “luxury” I’ve afforded myself is to draw and paint just for the joy of it – with no business related purpose. That’s been life changing too. Who knew?
Lucky you, Rebecka, that you live in Utah. And luckier you, that you’ve found some newfound joy in running and being outdoors!
No matter what I have going on, Tuesday nights are Derby Lite classes. I love doing things that shut my brain up for more than ten minutes, and usually they involve something that could seriously hurt if I get distracted, so self preservation keeps me from spinning my wheels
For an hour and a half every week I focus on the ground directly in front of me and only think about breathing, where my feet are going next, and how not to run into a wall. Which, when you think about it, is a pretty good metaphor for life…
Thanks Brian…I really needed to hear that right now! I am totally exhausted and my brain will not shut off…I think because I haven’t ‘allowed’ it too.
I live on 3100 acres, my nearest neighbor is miles away (my letterbox is 3 miles away…) there is nothing but sheep, cattle, horses and my wonderful husband…but we work our butts off outside and on our computers every other minute and all hours of the night, to ‘get things done!’
Now to get things done more productively. I better run now and get the mail
I enjoyed your post and the beautiful pictures. I’m fortunate to call Colorado home. My magical trail is time with my family or breathing in the mountain air of Estes Park, CO.
Thanks for this post Brian. It is EXACTLY what I needed to hear today. While I enjoy my work, sometimes the pressures get to me. I’m filling up the tank on my motorcycle and heading to another city tonight. The beauty of Colombia where I live now allows me to pick up and go. While I plan on thinking about my situation and strategy on the road, I will mostly let my mind become blank and let it work naturally. Thanks for this post man. Really broke my crappy cycle.
Somewhere along the way last year I lost my rhythm. I wasn’t feeling challenged, creative or inspired. Now usually, I go for a run or play some basketball for a few hours and everything is ok. But, I suffered a gnarly back injury that was preventing me from doing that. So I put on some weight, started feeling tired, and combine that with feelings of staleness in my work. Well, it’s not a good combination.
Lately though, I’ve been blessed with a great (and challenging – in a good way) opportunity. And I started running again in August. 4-5 days a week. I started doing yoga to work-out and stretch my back and I spend an hour or so stretching before a run.
For the most part, I’ve remained injury free (a minor knee sprain) and miraculously my back has held up. I’ve dropped 15 pounds and I finally feel like I’m finding that rhythm again.
When I hear friends talk about how unhappy they are in work/life, all I can think is “what are you going to do about it?” Something needs to change. Somewhere along the line, you’ve lost that rhythm and you need to find it. Just like I’m finding mine.
For the past three years I’ve been unhappy with my current career, which I’ve been doing for about 12 years now. It pays the bills, but…
In about a month, I’m making a cosmic shift in careers. Well, I’m just going out on my own, doing what I do now but will be a consultant rather than working for the “man.” I can’t wait!
Hey goodluck with the career move! It’s more rewarding following your passion.
Brian,
I’ve been with you since the good old days of Revolution Themes.
What you and your team have done in the past two years is incredible. You have helped me SO much on all my sites. You are appreciated. And don’t get yourself burnt out … we need you.
Mike Ruman
Hey Mike – thanks so much for the comment, and most importantly for being such a loyal user of our themes. Makes me smile to see people still around from the “early days”.
Similar to you, getting out to the mountains, river or a vast but quite coastline helps me to put things in perspective. Even lying back on the grass and staring up at the sky has a similar effect. We sometimes get so engulfed in what we are doing so that even the small things can seem much bigger and sometimes worse than they really are. Nature helps me to realize that there is something much greater, more powerful and significant than me. Stresses, worries and concerns shrink and I can get back to a level state of mind.
Another point inspired me in what you wrote. It was the fact that despite the long hours and hard work I feel that you love what you do and in many ways have realized a dream in what you doing now. Physically it is demanding I know but by getting the rest you need you are right back on track and 100 times more motivated.
I sadly do something I don’t enjoy at a company I don’t believe in and in a country that is very hard to be free and as you mentioned, “cross the bridge”. The way of thinking here is that as opposed to crossing that bridge, staying on the safe side is the desired way to think and act. I guess this way to live is forced in many ways and goes against the natural desire to challenge something new (something I love to do). I need to find that spirit to challenge again. Thanks for the inspiration.
Really appreciate these post Brian. Thanks for making all this real for the rest of us. Sometimes it’s easy to forget what makes us tick in the first place
My biggest dream is to travel around the world. My parents are very sensitive to travelling, they hardly travel to other cities or provinces. I was grown up at my hometown, and I have just have 3 visits to other provinces in my country. I don’t want to keep a normal life like this. I want to go out there, search for the opportunities, landscapes and so many other things. I want to explore every single corner of the world, to live my fulliest live. It seems very hard, but I am building my online presence to support the dream. It has just only the beginning, but I believe that I could do if I can really focus on my dream.
Thank you for such an inspirational post.
Great post. i love farming personally, or doing the dishes, or anything constructive indoors. It’s around 1700 EAT here in Kenya, and I’m soon leaving the office. But my Boulder Canyon sure leaves me relaxed every day.
Thanks for the post Brian. My husband is the runner in the family but I am more of a walker
Either way it is important to get out of the office and recharge….and it is also good to get reminded to do it! Often times we just run out of time and the “optional things” like recharging get pushed off the to do list.
I don’t think i enjoy another blog as much, and on the strength of this one I am now going to treat myself to an hour in the gym that I usually pay for and don’t bother with. Have a good ‘un today everyone
I think your beautiful trail is the “bonus” aspect of what you’re getting at. I also don’t live near rolling streams and scenes that look so colorful we almost want to believe they’re Photoshopped as how can nature provide such color? So if we can’t get to that trail when we need it, what is our trail? Or where is our trail? I think we have to create our own out of what we have on hand at the moment. If we have to, we take a run and maybe *imagine* the streams and craggy cliffs, but we’re out there, we’re away from it if only for a little while. Our imaginations are powerful, we just need to give them a little push. It reminds me of something I read almost 10 years ago now: Just Put on the Shoes. Who was that writer that made it sound so easy–but so difficult to actually implement!?
Thanks for reminding us how to find that trail, Brian. I hope you can find it again, too.
Fishing on the beach, up the coast about 2 hrs from where i live, staying there ALL day, with not a soul, not a single person, just me and my beautiful K9 friend, total peace and solitude.
Thanks for reminding me of what i should be doing, but haven’t done for a very, very long time.
Our Boulder trails are truly magical! Running on them is a gift, for which I am grateful. Thank you for visiting and encouraging others!
Brian,
“disconnecting” – I have to find ways to do that regularly. How I disconnect has changed over the years. But one thing has been consistent; some form of exercise. I, like many, work on a computer all day long. To disconnect I need to get away from the screen and move.
We’ve moved from Minnesota to Colorado and live within view of Pikes Peak. Right now it is a beautiful blue sky with the sun shining down on a snowcapped peak. Amazing. We are headed out to hike today – get out and move.
Seems like every time i come back I’m refreshed and inspired. Over the past two weeks, my “disconnect” sessions have inspired a pre-season workout program. *CARVED – cut to shred*
Without getting out and stepping away from the screen, I wouldn’t enjoy snowboarding, nor would I have been able to pull this program together. So amped to use Premise to build my landing page(s) for it as well. Can’t wait.
So … enough typing. I need to go “disconnect”. Time to hike.
-Troy
Hey, great post! I know exactly what you’re talking about.
I found my happy place, the southwestern Pacific ocean… It’s bone-chillingly cold even in the middle of the hottest summer, and gorgeous beyond description. I wade into the waves and in no time I’m refreshed. We turn it into a weekend day trip, everyone in the family goes to the beach so we also get to spend time together. That’s another major source of revitalization for me…
I decided to take up surfing… I almost see these times as “work,” or at least just as important as working hours. You’re so right about how important it is to set aside time to cross that bridge…
I love how you refer to it as spending time BEING and not DOING. That’s so important!
I work from home (online) and have found that, for me, the secret to sanity is to UNPLUG several times during the day. One great escape is Starbucks for a little fuel in the form of a latte (winter/fall) or frap (spring/summer).
Walking is another favorite way to unplug. Looking at the beautiful world God has created always puts me in a great frame of mind.
I’ve also fallen in love with photography – it’s a great way for me to get away from cranky plugins, writer’s block, never-ending to do lists, etc. Taking pictures of animals, birds, and trees is like hugging nature and that never gets old.
Great post Brian! This is so true! In 2012 I experienced the results of being on the computer non stop. I gained a bunch of weight and stopped exercising and the results were just completely unproductive and basically sapped the life out of me. I didn’t even feel like I could spend as much time with God as I wanted to. This year has been filled with prioritizing my health and family and the fabulous relationship I have with God and I’ve taken off 39 lbs since Thanksgiving, I love running on the beach!, completed my first two Studio Press websites for two of my kids: CreatorsApprentice.com and darlingransom.com and coached a business client weekly and am working on a membership site for him and life is good every day:)