Balancing "highly focused work effort" with adequate rest and recovery is invaluable in any performance venue - work, athletics, sports, hobbies, etc. Without adequate recovery time, we over stress our bodies physically, emotionally, and mentally. Energy levels suffer and peak performance is impacted.
Energize Yourself!
With regard to work activities, recovery time not only includes planned vacations and time away from work on the weekends but should also include daily "rituals" designed to regroup and recover from the stress associated with your day-to-day work demands. High-performance periods throughout the day MUST be balanced with recovery periods throughout the day. Without those recovery periods, performance tends to ebb substantially due to inadequate physical, emotional, and mental energy availability.
Consider These Daily Recovery Rituals to Energize Yourself:
At the beginning of each week, load a desk drawer up with healthy snacks -- nuts, low-sugar fitness bars, etc. During the day, take a 5 or 10-minute break to eat a snack from your snack drawer and drink a bottle or glass of water.
Stand up and stretch for a few minutes.
Walk a floor or two in your office; seek opportunities to say thanks or express appreciation to team members and colleagues.
Find an empty conference room and bring a blank pad of paper with you. "Unload" anything on your mind on the pad -- a problem you're trying to solve, a personal challenge, a team member issue, etc.
Call a good friend or family member just to say hello for a few minutes.
Close your door and read something interesting, uplifting, or inspiring -- from a book you have on your bookshelf; a blog article you've been saving; an article from a magazine you've been meaning to read.
Close your door and write a handwritten 'thank you' note or two to someone.
If it's nice outside, go for a quick 10 minute "clear your head" walk.
Take a 5-minute break and clean up and re-prioritize your to-do list for the remainder of the day or for tomorrow.
Close your office door, turn away from the door, sit up straight, and meditate for two or three minutes.
RULES to Follow -- During your Recovery Ritual:
Close your office door, when possible.
Turn off your phone(s) or forward your calls to voice mail.
Turn off your computer screen and your computer volume.
Turn off your email inbox "bell" or "tone".
Best,
Andy Robinson, Executive Coach
239-285-5575
Andy@AndyRobinson.Coach
"Helping CEO's and executives maximize their influence and impact."
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