It’s funny we celebrate Labor Day by taking the day off. We honor work with hot dogs and hammocks. Labor Day is the national “do nothing” award for doing something.
Here are some ways to celebrate:
#1. Reflect on your contribution.
Don’t focus on what you do. Reflect on what your work does. How does your effort make life better for others?
#2. Appreciate the labor of others.
Say thanks to someone you take for granted. Your spouse. The garbage collector, nurse, mechanic, or barista.
#3. Rest with purpose.
Hard work deserves real rest. Taking a break isn’t lazy, it’s fuel. Tired leaders make dumb decisions.
Rest like work matters.
Celebrate Labor Day by remembering that work is more than a job. It’s your way of making a difference. Even if you hate your job, you are making a difference for people you support.
How does your work make life better for others?
What kind of rest helps you return stronger?
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5 Ways to Rest and Rejuvenate
Rest is more than watching Netflix all afternoon. Yes, you need to lift your feet and veg out once in a while. Yes, you need 8 hours of sleep.
Downtime isn’t a waste of time. But beware!
The more you lay around the more you need to lay around.
Self-care harms you when you misunderstand rest. Snoozing on the couch for an afternoon helps when you’re physically exhausted. But couch potatoes are always exhausted.
“The most restorative kinds of rest — the things that recharge our mental and physical batteries most effectively — are the things that are active rather than passive.” Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
Movement energizes.
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5 ways to rest and rejuvenate:
#1. Practice active rest:
- Workout.
- Take a walk.
“The long walk while listening to a podcast may deliver more of a recharge and reset than being on the sofa watching ‘The Great British Bake Off.’” Pang
#2. Take breaks:
If you can’t take a long walk during the day, walk around the building. Put headphones on and listen to Bruce Springsteen sing “Glory Days.”
#3. Make a “today” list:
A to-do list grows until it becomes a billy club. “Make a list of things you can reasonably expect to get done today.” Robert Poynton
#4. Practice focus breaks:
My favorite re-energizing practice is taking three minutes to focus before a coaching conversation to focus, breathe, and choose how I show up. If you can’t take three minutes, take one. It does wonders.
#5. Turn off notifications:
No beeps, buzzes, dings, or vibrations for 60 minutes could change your day. It might change your life.
Bonus: Do something that makes time stand still. Carve. Paint. Puzzle. Make sure it’s not useful.
How do you rejuvenate?
What rest tip can you add?
More practical tips to increase personal energy: 3 Ways to Increase Personal Energy
Thanks to Tara Parker-Pope of the Washington Post for inspiring this article.
Why We Glorify Overwork and Refuse to Rest HBR
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Previously Published on leadershipfreak with Creative Commons License
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