Open for Business – whenever?

This is the sign on the door of the Tea, Toast & Post in Robin Hoods Bay. I thought it was a joke, until I turned up on Monday morning to find it closed, with no sign of life.

It was an “aren’t here at all” day. Fortunately, I stumbled on The Cove and indulged in a bacon sandwich for brunch.

Tuesday was the same except the Cove didn’t open either. Luckily, the village shop is “open all (daylight) hours”, so I bought bacon & eggs and fried up the best breakfast in RHB. That afternoon, the TT&P was bustling with customers. I enjoyed garlic mushrooms on toast, the delayed second half of my breakfast. I asked what time they would be open tomorrow : “about 10ish”.

No sign of breakfast anywhere by 11. I skulked back and made my own toast. By lunchtime, the TT&P had opened, and I finally enjoyed their famous bacon sandwich.

I had imagined a bustling town with a wide choice of food establishments. Trip Advisor lists 20 pubs, teashops and restaurants, shuffled in with book, gift and clothes shops.

The clothes shop opened for a while on Monday. The second-hand book shop, fossil shop and Chocolate Heaven opened briefly today. The toy shop, 2 of the 4 pubs and most other shops remain resolutely closed, despite a steady flow of visitors.

Part of me admires all of this. Maybe it’s a calculated plan to funnel customers into time windows to minimise staff costs. If so, it would be quite helpful to post clear opening hours and stick to them.

More likely it’s a reflection of a chosen way of life – to not let their businesses control their lives.

Many of us are tightly shackled to a timetable of responsibilities, meetings, deadlines and tasks. Many of these dictated by other people – customers, colleagues, staff, the boss and family. Work-life balance becomes a frenetic attempt to shuffle conflicting pieces, with no room for manoeuvre.

But no structure at all can lead us to drift and lose focus. We need a blend.

I had carved out a whole week of freedom, with time to do whatever I wanted – to write, read, walk and run. I made a plan for each. The frame over which this plan was shaped were meal times.

It turned out to be quite a wobbly frame.

So, I abandoned the detailed plan and worked to outcomes. I got less “done”, but what I did do, was done better, with more thought, reflection and care. I was able to follow my energy, rather chopping it into small, limiting boxes.

How is your balance of structure and freedom? How much space and time do you make for yourself? Are you too busy trying pleasing others, working too hard or setting standards which are too high? It’s hard to break out of the shackles of responsibilities and the control of the clock.

But it’s possible – I have clients who have done it. When the ropes slacken and the light shines in, you will feel less stressed, more in control and more human. Just like the good folk of RHB.

What does the notice on the door of your life say?

And what do you want to change it to?