![]() ![]() Unfortunately, I have worked with some people in the past who have ignored warning signs and have then had to take mental health leave in order to recuperate. Not taking breaks is a real issue with senior leaders because the pace of the role is intense. Ask yourself: How much are you really needed? How much do you trust others to keep working while you take time off? Vacations are key times to do things that bring you renewed energy.įor some, completely unplugging might be unrealistic, so they may want to do some work to keep up, but it’s important to set boundaries on how much work you let in. Some people pick up home improvement projects or pursue passions like competing in a marathon, which can also be fulfilling. Set yourself up with the kind of food that makes you happy - maybe it's from your childhood or maybe you desire time spent cooking your favorite meals. Treat yourself to sleeping in, long showers, long walks and a lot of rest. ![]() You can use your vacation time to nourish your well-being without going anywhere, but it's important to spend your time off like you are away. Vacations don’t have to mean going on holiday or a trip to a faraway destination. That's why some people do their best thinking while in the shower, walking the dog, going for a run or painting. We do our best work when we let our thoughts marinate for a while and then come back to them. Pursuing these interests stimulates our brains and exercises them in ways that are likely different from how we use them at work. We also need a variety of interests and pursuits in life, and balancing work interests with our other interests - mental, physical, vocational and spiritual - is key to our well-being. Leaders might feel like they can’t think straight or make decisions but experience a-ha moments in the shower or on a walk or bike ride or even on the weekend - “it made sense all of a sudden” or “it just came to me” - but it’s actually because they were finally able to take a break. When we take breaks, even small ones throughout the workday, the benefits we reap can be immediate in both clearer, longer-term thinking and in shorter-term, strategic systems thinking. Challenges look different when you step away from them, but it’s difficult to take a wider view without actually getting mental or physical distance. When you don’t take breaks you can get mired in challenges and, in turn, may lack the mental energy to take a wider view.
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