The importance of a little time off

One Tamebay commenter asked this weekend:

“By the way, why is Tamebay quiet this weekend? Is it geographical exposure? Is it data theft issue? Password fiasco? Broken search? Customers on strike? Or just too hot and everyone out, about and off internet?? Must be the latter as TB clearly not eBay.”

Firstly, let’s be clear there has been no password or data theft on Tamebay!

Secondly, as my esteemed co-editor Chris Dawson pointed out, we quite deliberately stepped away from the Tamebay dashboard this past weekend and took a few days off, starting on Friday afternoon.

Chris has taken the precaution of erecting a temporary swimming pool in his garden and I am blessed to live mere footsteps from both the beach in Hove and a pub with a lovely beer garden.

Between us we racked up a fair few leisure hours this weekend past and we commend the same to you. For numerous reasons.

This is the silly season. Nothing dampens the enthusiasm for ecommerce than blazing sunshine and the school holidays. Plenty of buyers just don’t buy. The nadir of the ecommerce year is often a hot, hot August Bank Holiday weekend.

Mobile may have done something to take online shopping to the deckchair but largely it’s about mood. There are often other and better things to be doing than buying online. BBQs, Pimm’s, picnics, rockpooling, holidays, balmy days on the lilo.

And mobile has its benefits to for sellers because you can more easily monitor any vital communiques on mobile devices.

But resist the urge to greatest extent you can because taking some time out is a good idea. Time to think is a vital business practice and it seldom happens in the hurly-bury of the working day.

If you’re anything like me, your brain will always be whirring workwise whether at your desk or bobbing up and down in the briny. I often say to Chris that I get my best thinking time and most sound ideas strolling up and down the promenade (whatever the weather).

It is best to refresh and rest as much as you can. Even a few hours can recharge the batteries and bring you back brighter to the important tasks at hand. Take the time when you can.

As an ecommerce SME, you have made something of a lifestyle choice in business. And part of that must be taking some recreation time and this time of year is good for that. Enjoy a bit of sun and family time.

Don’t worry. Tamebay isn’t going on holiday. There’s a lot coming up in August. But we are now very much on a Summer Timetable and we hope you are too.

Enjoy the sun while it lasts. Christmas isn’t far away.