Encourage Your Team to #digitaldetox

I like to think I'm pretty good at #selfcare and taking breaks, but a year after my #divorce and on the cusp of becoming an #emptynester , I needed a different kind of break. I wanted to clear my head and truly unplug so I booked myself a few days in sunny Arizona. Over the course of four days, I #hiked , #meditated , and fully #disconnected from work. I literally did not answer a single email or Slack message. The team knew they could text if they needed me and as predicted, they did not.

I want to share my personal takeaways, as well as why I came back even more committed to making sure other members of the team also get the chance to try their own #digitaldetox . While we strongly encourage #emailfree evenings and weekends, it takes time to unwind. I experienced far greater benefits after several days away vs. what just a weekend.

Choose a New Morning Routine (Move and Meditate)

So, I had a morning routine - I knew it wasn't ideal, but it worked for me. Or so I thought. My old routine started with a hot cup of tea, which I still look forward to. But then I would quickly dive in to a mix of news, social media, and email. I might intersperse a #guidedmeditation and some stretching. While I was away, I ditched the iPhone and opted instead for movement. Meditation became a morning staple, combined with a hike, brisk walk, or another form of exercise. I don't have to tell you how much more energized this left me, but it took getting away and trying something new for me to embrace a change.

More Time Equals Better Perspective Taking

I'm a big fan of #perspectivetaking . It's something I practice and have written about. But given the extra pressure I was under, my usual practices were not enough. I had to get out of the fray in order to look at the big picture and regroup. I was reminded of a phrase I heard long ago "This I know and joyfully embrace." It was time to embrace some hardships including the reality that hits many of us in #midlife - we may be slower, but hopefully also a little bit wiser. Physical limitations creep up on you, and that's to be expected. Still, I continue to invoke Jill Angelo who says "The fifties are our vibrant years."

Update Habits That No Longer Serve You

As a #coach , I've helped plenty of people reevaluate and update their habits to serve them better. With a few days away from work, I was able to reflect on my own habits and what I might want to do differently. I came up with three things:

1) Stop believing it's important to respond to everyone between sixty seconds and sixty minutes. I know this intellectually, but I still function like it's a priority.

2) Batch tasks! You know how you can spend all day reading email, but if you're away or in meetings those same emails take only a fraction of the time? Similarly, it's hard to do #deepwork when you're bouncing between email, Slack, etc.

3) With both kids out of the house, I want to spend more time and energy investing in #friendships than I did during this last phase of life. For me, this is about being intentional about how I want to spend the free time that's coming my way.

Overall, what were the biggest benefits of my time off? I came back feeling renewed and refreshed. My energy was significantly higher than it had been before I left, and I was felt more focused. Overall, I had a greater sense of #wellbeing and some healthy takeaways. I was grateful for the time to focus on myself as a #wholeperson and want to make sure others at Reverb can do the same.