Rest, recover, repeat
Remember how refreshed you felt after returning to work after your well-deserved, sun-soaked summer vacation?
Daytime rest and renewal are critical for anyone who wants to perform at a high level, but it’s hard to break free from the work-through-lunch-to-get-it done mentality that is baked into so many workplace cultures.
But, now that we’ve experienced new ways of getting our jobs done remotely — and also found the joys of less commuting and walking our dogs at lunch — during the pandemic, it’s an opportune time for a workday paradigm shift.
Rest and recovery are the bedrock of the energy management work I do with many clients.
Now, I’m challenging leaders to start walking the walk by promoting re-energizing breaks during the workday.
You wouldn’t see an Olympic swim coach insisting their athletes train all day without proper rest. Coaches understand the science of recovery and the risk of burnout. The same applies to leaders and their teams.
Polls have shown that many employees will be more selective when choosing where to work post-pandemic, so it’s important that your workplace reflects lessons learned during this time in order to keep and attract top talent moving forward.
Show don’t tell
Leaders, you may tell your team that you want them to take a break during the day, but if you are hunched at your desk reviewing reports while eating your tuna fish sandwich, you are sending the wrong message.
Leaving midday with your yoga mat, running shoes, or racquet will inspire your team to do the same. Remember, your behaviour carries more weight than words!
Show them that it’s OK to work hard and then recharge.
The pandemic has forever changed the workplace as we know it, so it’s time to rethink your company culture before it’s too late.
If I were starting a company from scratch now, I would sit down with every new employee and say, “OK, what do you need to be optimized?”
If an employee has kids in daycare, flex their schedule, so they are less stressed about pick-up and drop-off times. If your top salesperson isn’t a morning person, stop the 8 am meetings.
First, ask yourself: What do I need to be optimized? Then ask your team.
Happier, healthier employees are more committed to an organization and more productive.
There’s a high ROI on rest and recovery.
The workplace culture shift can come from the top-down or bottom-up. So, if your leader isn’t proactively seeking to find out what makes you perform your best, you need to advocate for yourself. Start the conversation by saying, “I’m more productive when….”
Year-round recharging
We all understand vacation renewal. But what does daily, weekly, monthly renewal look like? Start with your regular work routine.
For many, it’s making time to get in an endorphin-releasing run or trip to the gym. If you had a morning filled with energy-sapping Zoom presentations, read a book, take a nature walk or meditate and return recharged for the afternoon.
Some people still brag about all-nighters and skipping meals to get the job done. Instead, we should be bragging about our hacks for daytime renewal and how efficient we’ve become as a result.
The demands of work and the organization will always be there. However, we do have control over how we use our time and expend our energy.
Let me ask you a question: Where were you the last time you had a brilliant idea or problem-solving solution? I bet you weren’t sitting at your desk. Instead, it probably occurred to you like a bolt while you were singing in the shower or biking.
It’s scientifically proven that when we are rested and less stressed, our creativity and problem-solving increase, we are more patient, and we are better listeners.
This is when you contribute at the highest level to your business or organization. So, we need to stop thinking about just hours on the job.
It’s time for regular daytime recovery, so you are not just hanging on to the next long weekend or vacation.