Welcome back to the Let’s Grow Leaders Frontline Festival. This month’s festival gives tips about taking a break from work. Thanks to Joy and Tom Guthrie of Vizwerx Group for the great pic and to all our contributors!
Next month’s Frontline Festival is all about productivity-enhancing workspaces. There are two ways to participate…either submit a blog post on the topic, or your 1-2 sentence answer to the question. Click here to participate! Now on to our topic for July:
Beth Beutler of H.O.P.E. Unlimited makes it a practice to take a break every week by planning her workflow to avoid work on weekends. Her goal is to have all business work done by noon on Fridays, using a Friday afternoon bowling league as a marker for the start of the weekend mindset. Saturdays and Sundays are reserved for other healthy pursuits like fellowship with her husband and friends, exercise, church, reading, etc. with occasional non-business-related projects sprinkled in. Follow Beth.
Chip Bell of the Chip Bell Group is inspired by Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A, who wrote “Fall in love with what you do and you will never work another day in your life.” Chip says: “My brother retired a few years ago and hunts almost every day. I asked him when he was going to retire from hunting (he has two full freezers of venison and wild turkey). Even when vacationing in foreign countries, I spend the first hour of every day doing what I love–working!” Follow Chip.
Wally Bock of Three Star Leadership shares that we call short periods of downtime “breaks.” We call longer periods “time off” or “vacation” in his post, “Take a Break.” Follow Wally.
According to Michelle Cubas, CPCC, ACC, of Positive Potentials, LLC, the old saying of “live to eat or eat to live” attempts to temper our appetites. She contends we exchange the word “eat” for “work” to see where the American culture heads when it comes to work. Follow Michelle.
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.~ Saint Augustine
Eric Dingler of EricDingler.com places blocks of time on his weekly calendar that can be moved around, but not deleted. One of these blocks is “day off.” Another daily approach is 30-minutes of “me time,” which he always adjusts his alarm clock to accommodate. Follow Eric.
Chris Edmonds of Driving Results through Culture tells about a time his family created great shared memories, and ties it in to how similar activities can help your workplace culture. Follow Chris.
David Grossman of The Grossman Group has mastered how to leave email at the office when on vacation, and shares six steps to help you do the same. Follow David.
For Mike Henry of MikeHenrySr.com the breaks come when he can focus on being with people face-to-face. Maybe it is time with his wife discussing our future, or time playing with his grand children, or talking with his Mom or having breakfast with a friend. Focusing on people takes him out of the tasks and To Do lists and lets him freeze time to focus on someone else, and their needs and interests. Follow Mike.
John Hunter of Curious Cat Management Improvement thinks vacations and breaks are so important that he has designed his life so that they are a built in part of his normal process, Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) and Location Independent Working. He has also enjoyed vacations at national parks and shares photos here. He also finds that weekly vigorous exercise (like basketball) helps keep him in a good frame of mind. Follow John.
Laughter is an instant vacation.~ Milton Berle
According to Paula Kiger of Perspicacity so many of us get caught up in the web of being available 24/7, especially when it comes to our electronics. When I did a silent retreat, I took a forced break from that habit and was reminded of the power of turning everything off, even briefly. Follow Paula.
Paul LaRue of The UPwards Leader asks: How does a leader make vacation meaningful and refreshing? By following these tips leading up to it. Follow Paul.
Eileen McDargh of The Energizer reminds us that the American work ethic may not be ethical. Studies have found that while most Americans would choose more vacation time over a higher salary, the reality is that we don’t take advantage of time off. Follow Eileen
Robyn McLeod of Thoughtful Leaders Blog presents Why stepping away may be your best leadership move yet. Taking a break gives you the opportunity to rethink your current approaches, making time for the pursuits you love, and committing to more thoughtful and intentional actions once you return. Follow Robyn.
The ant is knowing and wise, but he doesn’t know enough to take a vacation.~ Clarence Day
Learn about four reasons why taking vacation breaks can help us to become a more effective leader for our team and organization. Thanks, Tanveer Naseer of Tanveer Naseer Leadership Follow Tanveer.
Molly Page of Thin Difference asks, “Do you ever feel like you’re too valuable to your business to take time off? Here are three reasons to set your mind at ease and schedule a break.” Follow Molly.
The number one thing that helps Julie Pierce of Valley Creek Church unplug when she’s on vacation is deleting the apps that keep her connected with work. That way she’s not tempted to check email or project boards. She justs re-install them the day I return to the office. Follow Julie.
Shelley Row of Shelley Row Associates has found that miniature breaks by simply closing her eyes are very helpful and enhance her leadership. Follow Shelley
John Thurlbeck of Wear Consulting says, “I have this perfectly balanced – in favor of vacations! Why? We all need to remember we are not invincible, nor irreplaceable, and we are certainly not robots! We need time to think, reflect, recharge and re-connect – with ourselves, our spouses/partners, our families and our friends. Work is an important part of our lives, but it should not be our life! Follow John.
Quote source: Brainyquote.com
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