One of the skills that is an important part of successful, well-rounded entrepreneurs that I have not heard anyone else teach about it the ability to shift gears.

Being able to shift quickly and decisively from work to play and back again is important to your peace of mind as an entrepreneur.  Now it’s a lot more difficult than you may think.  Ask any home business professional and they will tell you that there are certain challenges that working from home brings.

And I think this ability to shift between work and play is one of the biggest.

Unless you are extraordinary at this skill, you will have bleed time.  And what that means is that time when you’re sorta working but really not concentrating, and you will have time when you are supposed to be off-work, but your mind is focussed on business.  (And sometimes it won’t stop!)

As we are now in the “Attention Age” where our attention is being constantly bombarded by media, advertising and things in general, and so I predict that the people who are best able to shut off the outside world when they choose to, and get back just as quickly will be the most successful in the long run.

The truth is, that this is going to be more and more of a problem.

I think the best way to practice this is to pick a time for the day and then shut everything down at that time.  Don’t think about it.  Just do it.

Now what I personally use to get out of work is guided meditation.

I don’t really like meditation, because my thoughts are a little fast, but if I am guided by a voice to follow, I find it really easy to change my state and get my head out of the business.

Maybe it’ll work for you too.  Here is a free guided meditation I use a lot.