Meaningful rest: How pressing pause helps leaders recharge
In This Episode:
This week Victoria Stoyanova joins Within partners Laurie Bennett and Anique Coffee in a gentle exploration of meaningful rest, what it takes for leaders to press pause and prioritise rejuvenation and how to use that time and space in a way that is restorative to you.
This episode also features insights from other amazing leaders in our network: Alice Katter, Faheem Bhimani, Bronwen Foster-Butler, Tim Pham and Melanie Khal.
Listen here:
Invitation for Leaders:
Give our recent blog Meaningful rest: pausing to recharge a read and follow along for these four creative solutions:
4 creative solutions for leaders who need more rest
While a true sabbatical may be the most restful option for leaders who need to recharge, we must acknowledge that taking a long break is a privilege, and not possible for everyone. We asked a variety of leaders what meaningful rest looks like – some who are able to take a sabbatical, and others who aren’t. Here’s a mix of creative solutions we heard:
TAKE A TRUE SABBATICAL.
This is the gold standard in meaningful rest. Typically reserved for academics, a sabbatical is a period of paid leave granted to a university professor or other worker for study or travel – traditionally one year for every seven years worked.
What we’re seeing now is the rise of sabbaticals in the workplace, not just academia. While the practicality is the same (taking time off), functionally this looks different for each person. The duration, tenure, intention and name was different for each of the leaders we spoke to.
Take the name, for example. Many of the leaders we spoke to didn’t call their time off a sabbatical. Some simply called it “extended time off,” or a “Recharge,” as Meta titles it. For me, it was a Summer of Radical Rest, combining my intention (radical rest) and duration into one unique name.
CREATE INTENTIONAL TIME AND SPACE FOR REFLECTIVE AND/OR DEEP THINKING
This could be part of a defined sabbatical, or part of your daily and weekly practice.
“Self-reflection, at its simplest, means taking time to slow down and think about you and your experiences, as part of increasing your self-awareness, learning and growth. Self-reflection in leadership means devoting time to think about yourself as a leader and is critical for your leadership development.” – Forbes
Whether it’s day to day, or something new you begin during your break, it’s important for leaders to set aside time for reflection. Often, we move from one meeting to another without the space to reflect on what just happened in the previous meeting. Try using tech tools like Calendly or the automatic buffers included in Google Calendar to create on- and off-ramps between meetings.
Where possible, carve out bigger chunks of time to drop deep into your thinking, or even to have unstructured time to create something new. Breaking up your day gives the mind a chance to move and rest in different ways.
TAKE TIME AWAY FROM TECHNOLOGY
We heard stories about tech-free retreats, no-screen weekends and even phone-free mornings – but the resounding theme was to carve out tech-free time as often as you can. This could be going on a weekend retreat at a place like Unplugged (an off-grid digital detox resort) or even just saying no to the TV a few evenings a week and choosing a book instead. This tech-free time allows the brain and nervous system a chance to unwind and settle, giving the body and mind the feeling of rest, even if just for a few hours.
SET BOUNDARIES AROUND PERSONAL TIME EACH DAY
This can be as simple as making sure you take time each morning to do something for yourself – before doing something for your team or workplace. Stretch, eat breakfast, go on a walk. Recharge your battery before you give your energy to others. If you’re a parent, this might mean getting the kids out the door and taking a 10-minute break before logging on, so you can arrive at work with a feeling of calm and rest. I personally love using Headspace meditations to rest my body and get my mind ready for what’s next.
Another way I draw a boundary around my time is: no meetings before 10 a.m. Since we’re an international team, I know I’ll have to work into the evening to connect with my team, so giving myself some space in the morning makes this cross-timezone collaboration more sustainable over time.
So, does meaningful rest really make a difference? I can personally attest to its value, and to how it has affected my creativity and attitude toward sustainable growth. Victoria has felt the power of reclaiming her attention, and how this is helping shape her self-care into the future. The results of rest can be as different as the people taking it, but there’s one thing we find in common: meaningful rest is necessary.
Need a mini break now?
Give this lovely episode of the New Constellations podcast a listen: Rachel Coldicutt: The Courage Not to Act. Rachel is a technology strategist, specialising in the social impact of new and emerging technologies, and deploying them in ways that can nurture us all.
Or, how about reading more about the topic of leadership over on our blog?
How Intrepid Leaders are Redesigning Meaningful Work
Be a Human: The Key to Leading a Vibrant Hybrid Workplace
How to Rethink Your Business Growth Strategy in the Year of the Great Resignation