Taking a Break
Have fun, enjoy your work, recognize your contributions, avoid burnout. What if none of this advice works? You need a Break with a capital B. You need to get away from the office. You've either been in it or thinking of it for months and you're getting burned out. It's time to take a Break.
How long? Where? What will you do? You can answer these initial questions with some help from other consultants. Here are some of their suggestions:
The length of a Break isn't as important as the depth. A true weekend Break can be more renewing than a week away with worry.
Either find a trusted employee to run the office or close the business for a few days (maybe around a holiday or slow period).
Instead of calling you if there is an emergency, ask your employee to call a friendly consultant to help solve the problem.
Change habits. If you typically eat out, make your own meals instead. If you don't get to read many novels, do so. Don't even look at any business books.
Find a place where you can stare at the horizon: mountains, sea shore, desert.
Don't have a “busman's holiday,” visiting competitive offices on your Break. It's not relaxing.
Take in a play at a theater, listen to live music, stroll through an art gallery or museum.
Meditate. Spend some time each day connecting to whatever level of life force is comfortable.
Train your mind to set aside problems and focus on the positive aspects of your life.
In fact, you may discover that Breaks don't require that you drive or fly somewhere else. You can take Mini-Breaks just about anywhere and any time. It's a process: clear your mind, suspend your worries, enjoy the moment. A ten-minute Mini-Break can refresh your work day. Your problems will still be there when you get back from a Break or Mini-Break, but you will be more ready to prioritize and solve them.
