Leaders face more demands on their time and energy as they move into roles of more responsibility. Unfortunately, most feel that burning the candle at both ends is the answer to keeping ahead of the game. This approach is counter to how to be the best version of yourself. Consequently, your stress elevates, which is a recipe for triggering many more problems than the ones you hope to solve.
Take a break and open new possibilities. Easier said than done. Anytime we want to change a routine or try something new, it requires commitment and accountability. So, it’s critical to stop and reset. Take that break. It will support activating your para-sympathetic nervous system’s rest and digest response and which will help you find balance through relaxation and clarity.
Here are a few ideas to consider as you re-energize.
Physical: For some, exercise may be the answer: it can make them feel better mentally and emotionally, not just physically. Other activities could include reading a book or taking a walk. What about sleep? Power nap?
Mental: Thinking, reflecting, pondering—you can’t overestimate the importance of including time in your day for this. Fueling your mindset with new possibilities rests here. Getting up on the balcony and looking at the dance floor gives a different perspective from being on the dance floor.
As we move into more demanding jobs, we often continue the habits that got us there. But staying on the dance floor is why stress built up in the first place. That is now someone else’s responsibility. Letting go can be a problem. One way to commit? Ask a close colleague to be your accountability partner—just like with diets; it’s much harder to make this happen alone.
Relational: Create routines to be present, listen, and connect. Not to solve a problem but just because it feels good to chat with an old friend, make plans for a night out, etc.
Spiritual: Most of us want to live purposefully, leaving the world in a better place. Some ways people leverage this is through volunteering, meditation, and religion.
Here’s a quick exercise to test how much you want to adjust:
- Draw a large circle and draw lines like you’re cutting a pizza.
- Label each of the six or eight slices with areas of your life. Suggestions might be Health, Fun, Personal growth, Partner, Family, Friends, Community, or Physical environment.
- The center of the pizza is 0. Rate each area using 0 to 10 to show your current level of satisfaction.
Where do you have the most significant gaps in your satisfaction levels? The answer could be a great place to start improving your Executive Presence.