Work/Life Balance

It's more than a career/family split

What do you need to recharge?

For some people, the obvious answer is: sleep.

If you are feeling tired, stressed, demotivated, etc., this might be your first option. Get a good night’s sleep, and/or remove the issues that are making it hard to get a good night’s sleep, if possible. For many people, it’s hard to be a parent of a young child and sleep well, but a white-noise machine or earplugs might help with the traffic noise outside the building.

But sleep alone is not sufficient for that motivational and emotional recharge. How do you relax? What gives you a sense of well-being? It might be reading a good book in front of the fireplace, or watching a favorite movie, or cross-country skiing, or taking the dog for a walk, or kayaking the lake, or a pleasant dinner with close friends and a bottle of wine, or a video-game session in which you kill invading alien robots, or 30 minutes on the elliptical with pounding dance music blaring in your ears to keep you fired up.

One size does not fit all. Figure out what gives you that sense of well-being, and make time for that at least a few times a week.

Tag-team with your spouse or partner to give each other a break from childcare. Encourage your team to do something that relaxes them or that they enjoy over the weekend. Help them to recharge, too.

This is an investment in your own and your people’s long-term mental health, motivation, energy… and fondness for you. And having everyone refreshed and in a good mood makes for a more productive and pleasant work environment.

(Photo by Lasse Jensen on Unsplash)