All of us are working hard, working at a breakneck speed to get things done. We get up early, stay at work late, take our work home, check all our emails on our phones before we doze off, catch up on Sunday afternoons, so we are ready for Monday.
We have to go-go-go!
Right? Because that’s the only way to get ahead and get everything done.
Maybe not.
More and more I am noticing articles and listening to podcasts about the benefit of giving yourself space. Empty space to just think. Or just be.
I think our crazy workaholic behavior has become the norm as it gives us that dopamine rush of accomplishment.
But what if you tried this:
- Listen to calming music on your drive home (or if you WFH, then make 10 minutes to listen to music as you wind down from your workday).
- Leave your phone charging in another room (not on your nightstand), so it is not the first or last thing you see.
- Only check your work emails at certain intervals during the day (by constantly checking emails all day long, you waste up to 30% of your workday, as it takes time to refocus yourself on your real work).
- Make yourself take Fridays off occasionally as a “no work” day. No emails, no work text messages.
- Allow yourself to take 2 weeks of vacation at a time. A 1 week vacation feels like a tease, as it takes 3 days to decompress once you arrive and you start winding back up 2 days before you return to work.
One of my clients just returned from a two-week vacation. As I listened during our conversation I was struck by how much calmer she was and how much more clarity she had on her priorities. I could hear in her voice how much benefit she derived from the two-week holiday. At the end of our conversation we agreed that she needs to make sure she takes multiple 1-2 week vacations during the year, as it clears her mind, and refreshes her ability to be the best CEO she can be.
Too many company leaders feel they need to be at work, all the time, to make their company great and successful. What if the opposite was true? That the most successful companies are those where the leaders prioritize time off, for themselves and their teams.
How important is time off? It is critical and underrated.
Onward and upward,
Executive Coaching and Consulting for business CEOs, Owners and Presidents
If you are looking to grow your business or amplify your personal leadership skills, I would love to have a conversation with you. You can email me at [email protected] for a no obligation conversation.
