Stopping Is Not Optional

A few years ago, I was traveling west from Colorado along I-70 and forgot to stop in Grand Junction for gas. When the warning light came on, I was in the middle of a landscape that could easily pass for Mars. After passing several exits with no services, I started to get worried. I dropped my speed to 55 mph, turned off the A/C and obsessively watched the mileage tick by.

Then in the distance there was a sign for fuel. As I pulled off the Interstate my engine died; I put the car into neutral and coasted into an empty pump. I was ecstatic - jumping up and down. Which looked crazy to the other travelers, but I didn't care. The crisis was averted.?

But the crisis was mine... I failed to stop.

There are times when you are running on fumes. You have been working long hours for a long time. Your warning light is blinking red;

• Your spouse has moved from complaining to resignation
• You've dropped your health habits
• Your friends no longer ask you to do things because they know your answer will be no.?

You need a pit stop. This involves pulling off the road and attending to the areas of life that have been sacrificed for work;?relationships, family, health (mental, physical and spiritual). NOTE: This is not a change of direction, but an essential part of reaching your destination. When you stop, refresh and create a better plan for going forward, you experience renewal of energy and alignment with those around you.?

Emerging leaders tend toward overwork because they struggle to diagnose and triage problems.?Not everything demands immediate attention. Not every challenge must be solved at once. Leadership demands pacing. Pit Stops empower you to go the distance and to enjoy the finish line surrounded by others who are still with you cheering.?

Four Ideas:

1. Plan regular stops- weekly, monthly and annually.?Take a real day off once a week. Sundown Saturday to sundown Sunday is a great habit. Do something fun with your friends, spouse or family that is not related to work. Connect with people who give you energy. Do activities/hobbies that keep you interesting. Take a day once a month to refresh - run a race out of town, visit a friend, take the family to the lake, get out of your routine once a month. Then once a year, take two weeks (yes, all at once if possible) off for a vacation (not a stay), but a real go somewhere and eat, laugh and recharge with people you love vacation.?
2. Read broadly.?Our reading and media consumption can become very monotonous. One way to take a regular pit stop is to read outside of your field. Dip into some good literature, not for any utility, but simply to see the world from very different point of view.?
3. Try new things.?New foods, playlists, podcasts and routes to work jolt us out of the routine in ways that add interest to life. Habits are important, but routines easily become rote without small changes of perspective.?
4. Breathe:?We all do it, so, you might as well get good at it, since it has so many benefits. You don't need special equipment or training to just watch your breathing. When you are aware, you gain control. For example, take a few seconds to breathe deeply before answering an important email. It calms the brain and empowers you to think more clearly.?

Summary:

Regular pit stops make the journey enjoyable. They refresh and give you the ability to approach your work with perspective and energy.?