E2A 099: Intentional Escapes: How to Recharge or Create Your Best Work While Away 

In this episode of The Entrepreneur to Author Podcast, your host Scott MacMillan explores the value of stepping away from the daily grind, whether it’s to fully unplug, dive into deep work, or find a balance between the two. Inspired by the spotty Wi-Fi connection at the cottage, Scott shares actionable strategies for making the most of time away from your usual environment, and how to bring those benefits back home.  

ABOUT SCOTT:
Scott MacMillan serves as the Chief Strategist and Executive Publisher at Grammar Factory Publishing. While not a professional writer or editor by training, he brings over two decades of experience as an entrepreneur and business leader, having held executive, operational, and management consulting positions with esteemed organizations including Boston Consulting Group, Rogers Communications, and Corus Entertainment. Upon transitioning to entrepreneurship, Scott has dedicated his expertise to strategic oversight, ensuring that authors’ books are closely aligned with, and actively contribute to, the growth objectives of their businesses. 

ABOUT GRAMMAR FACTORY:
Grammar Factory is a Canadian self-publishing company that helps business leaders and entrepreneurs write, publish, and market non-fiction books to boost their credibility and business results. Their expert team guides clients from idea to professionally published book, offering editorial services to ensure high-quality, compelling content. Serving clients globally, Grammar Factory focuses on transforming manuscripts into industry-leading books that attract clients and enhance brands, with a strong commitment to supporting authors throughout the publishing process.

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Episode Transcript

Please note: The transcript is produced by a third-party company from an audio recording and may include transcription errors.

Scott MacMillan:

You're listening to the Entrepreneur to Author podcast. 

Announcer

Welcome to the Entrepreneur to Author podcast, the podcast that brings you practical strategies for building authority and growing your business. And now, here's your host, Scott MacMillan.

Scott:

You know those times when your internet drops, the phone signal is weak, and the world suddenly feels quiet? That's where I am right now, I'm at the cottage. The Wi-Fi is…well, let's just say it's not gonna win any awards. I'm not firing off emails every 10 minutes. I'm not bouncing between tabs or juggling notifications…and you know what? Sometimes that's exactly what we need.

But here's the thing, getting away isn't always about getting tons of work done. Sometimes it's about not working at all, and sometimes it's about working differently.

That is what I want to explore with you today. How to decide which one you need, and if you do decide to work while you're away, how to make it some of the most creative, strategic, high value work you've ever done.

So let's start here, before you even pack your bag, decide how are you going to approach your time away for me?

I think of it in three modes.

Mode one is full unplug If you're burned out feeling stale or just need to recharge this is your mode the laptop stays shut the notifications are off and you give yourself permission to not even think about work.

Mode two is deep work. This is for those projects you never seem to get to in the bustle of daily life, writing chapters of your book, mapping a new strategy, developing that thought leadership framework you've been noodling on. This isn't about cranking through your inbox with a nicer view. It's about focusing on one or two big meaningful things.

And then there's mode three, a hybrid. You give yourself a small defined window for deep work, maybe a couple hours in the morning, and then you unplug for the rest of the day. The point is to choose before you go, if you don't you can end up in that worst of both worlds place, low quality work and no real rest.

Now, why does getting away work so well for creative thinking? Part of it is disconnection,  without the constant pings and pulls on your attention your brain can go deeper, part of it is the change of environment.

There's something about somewhere different, a lake, a forest, even just a different room, that wakes up parts of your brain that stay dormant in your regular space. And part of it is rhythm.

When you're away, you're not as tied to the clock. You can work when your energy is high and rest when it's not instead of forcing yourself into the usual schedule If you choose to fully unplug go all-in leave your devices in another room swap digital inputs for analog ones books journaling sketching and schedule nothing.

Let your mind wander If you choose deep work. Set yourself up for success before you even leave. Pick one big thing you want to get done, download whatever you'll need, so you're not dependent on a flaky connection. Block off dedicated time for that work, then stop and keep a notebook handy, because when your mind is quiet the ideas tend to flow fast. And If you choose the hybrid mode, work early in the day, then put it away, treat the rest of the day as a proper rest. Go for walks, swim, cook, read…don't sneak back into work mode in the afternoon.

And here's something important, the benefits of this aren't just for the vacations. You can bring this back home with you. You can plan a local deep work day, take your laptop to a quiet cafe or a library with no Wi-Fi. You can block a no meeting day each week for your highest value work or you can book yourself in a single night away once a quarter just to think and create. Those small changes can keep the benefits alive long after you've unpacked your bags.

So, here's my takeaway. Whether you unplug or work do it intentionally, that's what makes the time meaningful. Next time you're somewhere quiet, with fewer distractions, and maybe a spotty internet connection, don't see it as a limitation, see it as an opportunity.

Now is the time, time to write time to publish and time to grow. I'm Scott MacMillan until next time.