The Compound Interest of Switching Off

Summer has a funny way of reminding us what's important. The markets don't stop, clients don't stop, regulation certainly doesn't stop, but for many advisers August is one of the few opportunities in the calendar to step off the treadmill. I believe that’s something to embrace rather than feeling guilty.

We spend so much of the year optimising our businesses that we can easily forget to optimise ourselves. My best breaks have been when I don’t just come back with a tan, but also a fresh perspective, new ideas and a fully recharged battery.

This is the time to finally read the book that's been sitting on the side, listen to those podcast episodes you've not yet pressed play on. Go for long walks without your phone (unthinkable, yes), have conversations with your children that aren't squeezed into twenty-minute windows between meetings, and be fully present. I love the lazy summer holiday mornings with my kids.

The irony is that doing less often allows us to think better. Behavioural science tells us that our brains need periods of recovery to make better decisions. Creativity rarely appears when we're rushing; it more often arrives on a beach, halfway through a run, driving with no destination in mind, or whilst watching your children do something wonderfully ordinary.

For me, the second half of the year is often when the magic happens. New client enquiries pick up, projects restart and momentum returns after the summer lull. Maybe the advisers who perform are the same ones that deliberately switched off in August?

My own summer is a slightly eclectic mix. I'm heading to Albania for the first time with a few friends (wish me luck), then I’m taking the kids to Lincolnshire for a few days before spending the majority of August in Portugal with friends and family. Three very different trips, each serving a different purpose, and I'm looking forward to all of them.

Have a wonderful summer,

Andy