The Secret of Working Hard and Resting Well

The other morning, I started my car when my phone rang as a not-so- gentile reminder. My heart sank … then started beating rapidly … all because I was late to the drop off … 23 minutes late!! My son, Elliott, plays on a soccer team out of Tulsa. He was hitching a ride to soccer practice in Tulsa and all I had to do was drive him 23 minutes to the meet up spot!

Ugh! I felt terrible. So, I put the car in turbo mode and hoped for the best. It was safe to say, vacation mode was over and the first day back was not going as planned!

It was already happening. That feeling ... the feeling we get when we must operate on another level of drive.

Here are my indicators of that unsustainable zone:

• When I board a plane, I get my laptop out before we take off so I can “not get behind” and “get ahead”.

• When I go to bed, I think about what I have to do in order to win the week.

• When I wake up, I bypass healthy rhythms (engaging family, French press coffee, and devotion) and shift to work mode.

• When I think about work, I think about what’s not done, not happening, not working, instead of what is done, is happening and is working.

What are your indicators of being in “turbo mode” for too long?

We can only operate at that level of “drive” for so long before other areas of our lives start to suffer. We aren’t meant to work on overdrive for weeks and months at a time.

We are meant to work hard and rest well.

When these indicators are happening, I must realize that exhaustion and family frustration will set in soon. Instead of getting ahead at work and home it seems like only one area moves forward.

The unintended consequences of working in “turbo mode” are not worth it.

We sacrifice ourselves and our family for our work goals and then our work goals are less fulfilling because of what they cost us. We don’t have time to talk about all of the unintended consequences of working in “turbo mode” for too long. But we know we have them. Here are just a few …

• Migraines, weight gain, constant stress

• Relational disconnect with family

• Relational disconnect with team members

• Burnout

The solution is not simple. Adding another PTO day or vacation will not solve the problem. Adding another day at the gym doesn’t change the world. Although, I’m not saying those things aren’t helpful! Take PTO, go on vacation, go to the gym, but recognize those things don’t solve the bigger problem.

The solution is a bit deeper.

Healthy leaders know who they are, where they are going, and why they are going there. Healthy leaders love life at work and love life at home (at least most of the time)! Healthy, legacy leaving leaders know what their purpose is … what drives them.

When we align what’s most important with what we do, we can establish healthier rhythms in life. Why? Because they connect to our purpose. As a result, we’ll also get clear on what to stop doing. We can more easily recognize what is getting in our way and then … align our priorities with our purpose. That’s the key!

Know what’s most important so you know where to focus and what to empower others to be responsible for, instead of just you.

The constant disconnects between work and purpose (and the unintended consequences of those disconnects) is why Session 1 of the Insight Executive Leadership Academy is about Purpose and Rest.

When we deeply root what’s most important with what we do – we are more resilient, we have healthier relationships, and we’re more productive. We tend to come closer to loving life at work and loving life at home.

It starts with knowing where you are rooted and making sure you have healthy rhythms of rest to ensure you remain healthy.

Let’s leave constant “turbo mode” in the rear view of 2024 and set our sights on the new road of loving life at work and loving life at home in 2025.

If you are starting 2025 like I started the day taking my son to soccer, please consider joining us at our Insight Executive Leadership Academy.