Set Aside Time to Recharge

At times, I get tired of being tired. Do you feel the same? As mentioned in my previous posts, people just cannot seem to disconnect. In fact, Asia Pacific users spend the most time on their mobiles, computers and TV screens compared to any other users in other regions.  

In the last piece, I spoke about taking a short break from work through breathing and meditation. Here, I want to delve into taking deliberate, extended breaks to conserve and refuel your energy levels, so that you are more effective at work.

Burnout – the devastation and how to prevent it

Burnout is real. It affects even the best of us because hardly anyone can run at a full 100% speed all throughout life. It is a serious problem and one that we ought to avoid. The adverse effects affect both professional and personal aspects of life, ranging from sharp dips in performance, emotional exhaustion, disengagement, cynicism, backlashes towards loved ones, and poorer health.

Furthermore, Deloitte’s Workplace Burnout survey states that 84% of millennials say they have experienced burnout at their current job, compared to 77 percent of all respondents. Especially in organisations like Luxasia where 66% of our People are Millennials, the millennial burnout issue is a pertinent one. While there has been articles on how to avoid burning out, the underlying method of preventing burnout is simple and the same – set aside time to recharge, and by this, I mean plan breaks to consciously get away from work. Just like how your body needs time to physically recover from a workout, your mind needs time to unplug and disconnect from the work.

Ironically, it is the high-performing and dedicated employees that are most likely to suffer burnout. This further accentuates the downside burnouts have on companies. Leaders and senior management in organisations need to encourage the mindset and set the tone that taking designated breaks and vacations are not detractors, but rather ingredients of productivity and success.

Make a “Disconnect” Plan and stick to it

We know that disconnecting from work is essential for our well-being, but at the same time it does get difficult to completely unplug from work (especially for those hardworking ones or senior executives), especially during extended vacations.

I am at times guilty of not being able to disconnect completely during planned breaks. However, to keep me in check, I have created my own principles to organise my time effectively.

• During my planned vacations, I will avoid taking any work-related calls and I will refrain from engaging on work matters unless there are decisions which are both urgent and important for me to attend to. It takes conscious effort, and I admit, it is not always easy. However, this matters to me because it affects how I recharge, and my ability to be present for my family.
• To recharge weekly, I also devote much of the time from Friday night until Monday morning entirely to my family and myself. While I give 100% Monday to Friday, I take time off weekends as a necessary factor for continued weekly productivity.

Other activities that help me to recharge:

Sleep – this is very important. This may seem like a no-brainer, but yet it’s true. However, due to the rigours of a CEO role, I am sometimes guilty of not getting enough sleep. But I too understand the detriments of it. I see it in a declining attention span, and declining effectiveness in problem-solving.

Science explains why the lack of sleep is counter-productive to one’s career – Studies have found that that when you sleep your brain removes toxic proteins from its neurons that are by-products of neural activity when you are awake. So without enough sleep, the toxic proteins remain in your brain cells, wreaking havoc by impairing your ability to think.

In Singapore, a study found that the sharp decline in Singaporeans’ physical wellness was attributed to an increase in sleepless nights, leading to higher stress levels. The nation is the most sleep-deprived in the region, and are amongst the most–stressed globally.

This is why I make it a point to sleep at least seven hours a day. For sleep sceptics, consider what Jack Ma’s has to say - “If I don’t sleep well, the problem will still be there. If I sleep, I have a better chance to fight it.”

Eat – Watch what you eat. The nutritional content and calories affects your energy levels. Here, a data analytics catchphrase summarises well: “Rubbish in, rubbish out”.

Move – Exercise helps boost energy levels. Post-workout endorphins further enhances ones mood and strengthens one’s body. Growing up close to the snow-capped Austrian mountains, I have always been a fan of skiing and have even picked up snow biking during the family holidays. While in more tropical climates, I enjoy kite-surfing and going to the beach.

Meditate – I have shared about this in the previous article. It resets my mood and helps me to be both present and effective in the present.

Sustaining the marathons of both life and career

To me, life is all-encompassing, consisting of my inner being, my health, my family, my friends, and of course, my career. While career is important, it is just a subset of the larger jigsaw of life. Regarding both life and career, I govern them not as sprints but as marathons – pacing myself, modulating between “walks” of rest, consistent “jogs” of good output, and aggressive “sprints” of 100% performance. All these, while keeping a very clear end in mind.

This marathon of life requires both planning and ongoing prioritisation. Rest is therefore a critical component that I must plan into both my weeks and my years. It helps me strengthen my balance in life, so that I am recharged to overcome any challenge that life may throw me next in this marathon.