| How often do you hear it’s important to take time off? Probably often! Important, but for sure not easy to do! I mean, really do…as in don’t check emails, turn off the phone and totally unplug kind of “do.” I think it’s fair to say that, at any point time, at least half of my coaching clients cite burnout as an issue we need to work on. And sometimes talking about it brings up real emotion. They are very aware of its cost! Can you relate? This article, 16 Employee Burnout Statistics You Can’t Ignore, appeared on the site called EveryoneSocial.com last month, and gives some very sobering statistics on the impact of burnout. It also offers strategies to address it, including flexible scheduling and setting work boundaries. I want to dig into work boundaries a little more here, and offer a challenge. When helping clients set work boundaries and take what often feels like a huge risk to simply STOP, REST, and RECUPERATE for a time, these rationales are helpful: 1. Work will always be there. 2. Your team has what it takes to step up while you are gone. 3. You’ll be better for yourself and everyone around you if you take a break. 4. Your team will be more inclined to take PTO if you do (and you know they need it!) 5. And, how about this one…you want be healthy and give yourself the best shot at a long life! If it’s been awhile since you’ve seriously taken personal time off, what’s the next step you’ll take to make it happen? Most importantly, what do you need to trust about your work environment and personal life to give yourself permission? Now, here’s my challenge to you: PTO doesn’t always have to be measured in days. How about also measuring in hours? Consider completely unplugging for one hour a day. Yup! Your daily PTO time! Dedicated to the refreshment of your body, mind, and soul… And your leadership, too. What’s it going to be? Who will you enroll to support you? Approach this hour as the most important daily investment you make—I bet the cumulative effect will be a pleasant surprise! Yours on the journey, Martha |
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