Time Off: Do as I Say, Not as I Lead

Do as I say, Not as I Lead.

Okay, brainSHIFT community, wellness check:

Do you remind your team to take holidays, vacation time, and PTO but ignore days off yourself? If taking a vacation means logging in for just a few virtual calls and cleaning out your email inbox, this newsletter is for you.

In the last two months, I have failed as a leader.

I have team members trying to work through migraines, family members' doctor appointments, graduation ceremonies, and MRIs.

I didn't realize that Memorial Day holiday weekend was happening in the US until I tried to schedule a meeting on Monday and saw the tag "Memorial Day" on the Google calendar. (For our international readers, this is a US Federal Holiday). I took the three-day weekend as a sign that I would have quiet time to finish editing the second draft of my manuscript, "The Busy Brain Cure." I asked my team to enjoy the holiday and report on Tuesday what they did for digital detox.

What were the results? Over half of my team also used the long weekend to "catch up on work."?

I take personal responsibility; if I consistently choose to work on holidays, evenings, and days off, I set a poor example for my team. Our people will follow our lead, not our words.??

Next week I have a breakneck schedule in Boston, and then I hustle on Weds evening to catch a flight for vacation. It appears seamless when I am live on stage because my entire team is in the background, remotely supporting our tech stack and my complex travel schedule.

One of my team members didn't want to take the day off to travel for her nephew's high school graduation, and I am thankful she mentioned his special day in passing. I repeatedly asked her,?"Please take time off, we are organized, and other team members are there to handle our to-do lists."

In a rapidly scaling business as we prepare for a global book launch, speaking engagements, and my role as Chief Wellness Officer - my little free time is left for philanthropy and sleep. I forgot how to unplug, have fun, or chill and fold laundry.??

?

So today, I wrapped up business in Palm Springs, CA, and messaged everyone in our team I am signing off (for real after I publish this article). I asked them to sign off for the weekend as well. I got a few to-do list items on our Slack channel and said,?"let it wait until Monday."?

And to make sure I stop working, I scheduled a hair appointment prior to going to meet Lizzo at her concert tonight.

I will be out of the country for 12 days and am working on a plan to take actual days off (and fight my Busy Brain of to-do list items or urges to check email). Not only do I want to be present for my family members I will be enjoying comfort food with, but I also want to lead my team in learning to honor personal days off and vacation time.

Do as you say, and lead by example.??

So tell me, how do you ensure you and your team honor personal time off?

Let's brainSHIFT,

Dr. Romie

About Dr. Romie:

Dr. Romie is a board-certified physician, award-winning wellness speaker, and the founder of "brainSHIFT."?She is on a mission to transform mental health in the workplace and currently works with Fortune 500 companies, professional athletes, & global associations. Dr. Romie is also the Chief Wellness Officer for Evolution Hospitality, where she scaled a mindfulness & wellness program to over 7000 employees. Her expertise is featured in the national media such as NPR, NBC, TED talks, and Forbes. Her book, "The Busy Brain Cure" is pending publication in early 2024. You can find the cure for your busy brain at drromie.com or @drromie on social media.?