“I don’t have a single good idea left in me.”
This thought crossed my mind repeatedly during the editing phase of my book. Little did I anticipate the time-consuming nature of the editing process, especially with my packed schedule of speaking engagements. As a result, my sleep suffered, my anxiety peaked, and my creativity diminished.
Feeling on the brink of burnout, I made a deliberate effort to take vacations during the summer, reduce my client workload, and allow myself more downtime. This revitalization led me to establish boundaries and strive for a lighter workload in the fall, coinciding with the official launch of my book. My focus shifted from mere rest to prioritizing recovery.
The Distinction between Rest and Recovery
Over 15 years ago, I adopted a daily morning habit: weightlifting. Between sets, I pause to catch my breath and rest. However, rest alone isn’t sufficient to achieve desired results. One of the fundamental rules of weightlifting is to allow for full recovery days. Why? Inadequate recovery, such as lack of muscle rest, proper nutrition, hydration, stretching, and adequate sleep, can lead to exhaustion, illness, sleep disturbances, adrenal issues, and even declines in emotional well-being.
Examples of rest:
- Including 30-minute buffers between meetings
- Delegating tasks that no longer provide growth opportunities
- Designating one night per week for take-out, leisure, or having children handle responsibilities
- Logging out of work email/messages after 6 pm
- Taking a day or half-day off after a demanding week
Examples of recovery:
- Taking a complete week’s vacation without accessing work
- Dedicating an entire weekend to activities you enjoy, free from obligations (for instance, this weekend, I recovered by hiring a cleaning service and indulging in two seasons of The Morning Show, interspersed with evenings spent with friends)
- Utilizing your company’s mental health resources or seeking therapy or coaching
- Traveling to a destination of interest with a loved one and fully immersing yourself in the experience
Neglecting Recovery Increases the Risk of Burnout
Similar to weightlifting, failure to prioritize adequate recovery can lead to insomnia, frequent or chronic illness, emotional health issues, decreased work interest, teeth grinding, or frequent headaches. In essence, these are telltale signs of burnout.
According to Deloitte’s 2023 Women @ Work Global Outlook, 46% of women reported experiencing burnout. The inability to disconnect from work, the responsibilities of childcare, and managing household tasks likely contributed to this statistic.
If you find yourself heading towards burnout, try to identify the early warning signs and, if possible, seek the assistance of a trusted therapist or coach to pinpoint the causes and develop an action plan for moving forward. You can find additional tips and resources here.
How Companies Can Prioritize Rest and Recovery for Employees
To promote rest and recovery, one of the key steps companies can take is to cultivate a culture of employee well-being. This can involve ensuring employees take a specific number of annual leave days, investing in mental and well-being initiatives, offering workplace flexibility, and providing childcare support.
At Businesssolver, they offer additional support for rest during busy seasons and actively encourage employees to prioritize recovery during quieter periods.
During their busiest time of the year, Businesssolver collaborated with me to conduct group coaching sessions on “Maximizing rest
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