Do you know what one of the most delightful benefits of semi-retired self-employment is?
Waking up to your internal clock.
I left my last corporate job in 2010 and never went back. But it still took me several more years to realize I could live my days the way I wanted. I can work the hours I want, where I want, how I want, and with whom I want.
When you spend most of your life being controlled by someone else’s rules and schedules (e.g., in school, at work), it can take a long time to recognize your newfound freedom. It can take even longer to make the most of that empowerment and freedom!
It was only a few years ago that I realized I had no need for a morning alarm anymore. Also, daylight savings can come and go. I don’t care. I wake up when my body tells me to wake up. I’m kind of lucky that I tend to wake up around the same time each day, anyway.
I spent too many decades of my life chained to an alarm clock (or app). Talk about a horrible way to start your day! Waking up to some sort of intrusive noise that startles you out of a deep sleep and throws your body into a panic response. No wonder we spend so many years of our lives feeling like crap all day, and using coffee to survive.
Well, no more! You don’t realize how chronically sleep-deprived you are until you let yourself sleep as much as you need and wake up naturally again.
As I designed my coaching business about 10 years ago, I made sure to schedule things so that I have time to wake up naturally, make coffee and eat breakfast, journal, and get ready to start the day my way. I always hated being rushed out the door for an early commute to the office. I prefer slow starts and plenty of time to enjoy my morning before jumping on a client call or starting other work.
Sure, I occasionally have to use an alarm to catch an early flight or get to a doctor’s appointment here or there. But it’s pretty rare!
Have you thought about what post-employment life would look like for you?
What will you do with the new power and freedom that self-employment enables?
What are you putting up with now that you can kick to the curb when you work for yourself?
What do you wish you could do with your time if you were in control of your schedule?
Make sure you lean into that empowerment! Make the most of being completely in control of how you live—perhaps for the first time in your life. Design your business around your desired lifestyle, and you can toss your alarm clock in the trash (real or virtual).
Want to chat with me about how you can design a business to fit the life you want? You can always schedule an initial free call with no pressure at all.
From corporate exec to entrepreneur, Larry Cornett is a coach who helps you leverage your existing expertise to design a self-employment business that funds the life you want. Escape the 9-to-5 grind by creating your Exit Blueprint to freedom!
➡️ Ready to build your blueprint? Book a free call today to claim your spot.
