We all need margin to live productive and fulfilling lives. It helps us perform at our best and be fully present. But what happens when you lack margin at home? Just like at work, we have long to-do lists at home. From laundry to cooking, to cleaning and shuffling kids to activities. Not only can […]
Archive for Rest
The Cure for Burnout
Most achievers think the answer to their productivity struggle is to hustle harder and faster. But that only leads to burnout. And in the modern workforce, burnout is a constant threat. We put leaders who never rest on a pedestal. We wear busyness like a badge of honor. Technology keeps us continually connected and always […]
The Secret to Achieving More: A Good Night’s Sleep
Caught between the demands of life and work, sleep is often one of the first things to get cut. It’s even become a sort of value-signaling to prioritize work over sleep. But what if sleep is the very thing you need to actually accomplish more? The National Sleep Foundation recommends that healthy adults get between […]
Why Every Leader Needs a Sabbatical
As leaders, we tend to be energized and motivated by our work. That can make us resistant to taking time away. Yet the more we work, the more we get caught up in the nonstop whirlwind of activity that can leave us exhausted and ineffective. In this episode, we’ll answer your top three objections to […]
The Science of Sabbaticals
Take a Break to Take It to the Next Level
I used to take yearly sabbaticals. For three glorious months each summer my time was more or less my own. I did whatever took my fancy: running around the yard with my siblings, reading books, pestering my parents. You probably did, too. We were little, so the associated learning was not exactly productive. Luckily, sabbaticals […]
Sabbatical on a Budget
What to Do With All That Time Off?
Picture this: you’ve been with the same employer for many years and they want to reward your loyalty with the recharge of a sabbatical. Typical sabbaticals can last anywhere from 1-6 months in length, for the sake of this article (and because I’m a teacher that is on sabbatical every summer) we will plug in […]
The Science of Naps
Snooze Now, Conquer Later
My two-year-old is asleep for the third time today. I thought I had developed a clever disciplinary method when I started telling him that cranky kids need naps, and sending him to bed multiple times. Turns out I was being more clever than I knew. Instead of being better behaved, he just keeps going to […]
Bouncing Back After Burnout
Real Stories from Leaders Like You
The intentions are noble: You want to buy a house with a backyard for your kids, pay off debt, or do something to actually justify the $50,000 worth of student loans that feels like a noose around your neck. You vow to work harder than everyone else on your team, to be the first one […]
The Importance of Play
Have an Adventure, Wherever You Are
This past weekend our family had to cancel a special trip to a friend’s lake house that had been circled on the calendar for months. Our initial weekend plans had play and adventure built into them to recharge the grownups, help us finish a busy season well and open our minds up to new possibilities […]
Get a Life!
Leave All Work and No Play in the Dust
For my first job in Washington, DC, I worked very long hours. One night, a rare dinner date was lined up. “What time do you get off?” my date asked to coordinate. A long, awkward pause followed. “It’s kind of a philosophical question,” I finally admitted. That was fine by me at the time, but […]
Self-Care As a Leadership Discipline
For leaders, there never seems to be enough time in the day, and our own needs are often the ones that get shortchanged. Now imagine what your life would be like if you really did have time for career, family, and self-care.
I Love Energy!
Why Productivity-in-a-Bottle Schemes Fail
“Are you tired, run down, listless? Do you poop out at parties? Are you unpopular? The answer to all of your problems are in this little bottle!” This quote, from Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy, is both hilarious and timeless. Her Vitameatavegamin bottle made some pretty large promises that only required an alcohol content of […]