How to Re-Charge…And Have Clients
How can I un-plug when you keep calling me????
The never-ending conundrum – how to re-charge your batteries while facing the realities of being client-facing, and therefore consistently “on-call”.
I’m always on the lookout to find small wins, as we aren’t going to upturn the basic premise of the profession, which can be well-described in song by Cyndi Lauper – “if you’re lost you can look and you will find me, time after time…”
Here are two science-backed ways to re-charge that feel realistic:
Take Smaller, More Frequent Vacations: Research suggests that short, frequent breaks are more rejuvenating than longer ones. The benefits of vacation fade within two weeks of return, much like a marathoner exhausting all water early in the race.
Try: Plan long weekends as mini-getaways and prioritize one-week vacations over less frequent 2-week vacations.
Master a Hobby: Having a 'mastery activity', a challenging hobby you can get better at, provides a better mental break from work than passive relaxation. It works because while we’re doing the activity, it forces our brain to focus on something other than work. Relaxing with Netflix has its place and time, but you’re a lot less likely to ruminate over work while playing a heated game of tennis.
Try: Re-visit an old hobby or take your current one to the next level.
For more on the research check this podcast by Adam Grant
Image Credit: Roberto Ferraro