Take Time Off

Take time off!

Please take some time to enjoy your family and get some rest. The holiday crunch is coming and for most of us that means non-stop activity until January.

Enslaving yourself to your work can actually make you accomplish less. Master the ability to recharge yourself when you need it. Studies have shown that productivity actually improves with time off and rest. We cannot operate at full speed all of the time and expect not to lose some of our efficiency.

For example, I have started a practice of unplugging from my laptop on Sunday, unless there is some truly compelling reason not to. It is far too easy to become addicted to my Twitter, Facebook and HootSuite and before I know it the “10 minutes to check in” has turned into 2 hours. I have found and many studies substantiate this, that I can recharge my health, energy and focus by completely getting away from work in all its forms. So, my Sundays include reading my paper over coffee, walks, hiking or bike rides with my family or the dogs, gardening and best of all spending time in my chair with a good book!

This Thanksgiving week I am going to attempt to only check in with social media and personal email once a day (max 30 min.,) that’s a compromise my family and I can live with. I plan to spend time petting my dogs, listening to my children, getting in some “auntie” time with my niece and nephew.

What can you do to rest and recharge? Think of the possibilities…..