8 Signs It's Time to Hit the Pause Button

Something I’ve been struggling with lately is making the most of my time, my work, my talents, my energy… just all the things. The truth is, I am highly competitive to my core (if you know me, that made you LOL).

?This means that wasting time and resting are two things I struggle with.

But, I’m also at a place in my life where I realize how crucial the balance is between pushing to get the best and taking time to rest.?

One of my toxic traits is telling myself I don’t have time to rest. If that resonates with you, you are my people! I keep pushing forward into the abyss of misery. But I’m learning that when I do that, one of two things will happen:

1. I get sick. My body forces me to rest (and let’s be honest, being the speaker at an event doesn’t allow for calling in sick).
2. I put out crappy work that takes twice as long. Or worse... both.

Here are some other facts that made me gulp:

• “Adequate rest reduces burnout by 60%” — World Health Organization
• “Lack of rest makes individuals twice as likely to experience anxiety and depression.” — National Sleep Foundation
• “77% of employees have experienced burnout at their current job, and 91% say that unmanageable stress negatively impacts the quality of their work.” — Deloitte
• “Good rest improves creative problem-solving by 60%.” — Journal of Experimental Psychology

Now, you’re probably thinking, “My burnout, my inability to problem-solve, my mental health struggles, and my lack of productivity are all linked to needing rest?!”

Yes. Yes, they are.

Giving yourself permission to rest is not just essential for progress, it’s crucial to getting the MOST out of yourself! Recognizing the need for rest is the first step.

Listen, it’s October. Many of us are sitting in the “HEAVY STRESS” zone. With back-to-back holidays and end-of-year wrap-ups, this is your reminder to pause and check on yourself. And while you’re at it, check on your people too.

Our people (employees, students, customers, family, etc.) often push forward until things fall apart because they think that’s what’s expected. (We’re not talking about laziness here; we’re talking about the close-to-burnout zone.)

As you check in on your people, consider these Top 8 Indicators of Burnout:

1. Decreased productivity & creativity
2. Increased mistakes
3. Decreased engagement
4. Increased sickness
5. Decreased collaboration
6. Increased emotional strain (frustration, irritability)
7. Lack of excitement and energy
8. Increased conflicts

If you see these signs, it’s time to take action.?

Here are 8 ideas to help your team get their feet back under them:

1. Check workloads and possibly rotate stressful tasks.
2. Open lines of communication—make sure you’re face-to-face, checking in.
3. Encourage breaks and spread out the heavy parts of the day.
4. Celebrate wins and promote things that bring joy.
5. Build in “NO MEETING” days.
6. Offer mental health resources.
7. Encourage wellness programs.
8. SET THE EXAMPLE—how you handle stress and rest reflects onto your team.

There’s no exact formula or fix, but being vigilant and intentional is a good start. Just reading this is already helping you assess your situation.?

My goal is to give myself a little more grace—easier said than done!

Know that I’m cheering you on and working alongside you in the race for grace.

Yours Truly,

— Julie