It Might Be Time to Take a Break! (#213)
The Confident Leader
BOOST YOUR LEADERSHIP IN UNCERTAIN TIMES
Writer’s block. Check back next week!
“I don’t believe in writer’s block. If I can’t write, I go out and live. Then, if I’m a writer, I’ll find something to write.”
― Peter Arpesella (American actor and author)
This Week’s Edition
Sometimes you need to take a break especially if you find yourself grinding it out and hating something you used to love.
Clarify Your Thinking
In August, I took a two-week hiatus from posting on LinkedIn. I’ve enjoyed posting almost daily for several years, but toward the middle of August, I found myself exhausted and needing a break.
I wish I could tell you the break was an intentional pre-planned hiatus from posting. It wasn’t. I just petered out.
Taking time off on that one routine was great, but I did suffer from a nagging thought that I was failing to be consistent.
In James Clear’s Atomic Habits, his mantra is… consistency. He’s so sold on consistency that he preaches, “if you miss one day, just don’t miss two.”
That mantra played in my head each of the fourteen or so days I failed to post.
Old Thinking: I’m beholden to my routine. I can’t miss a day or week. But, I’ve started to resent my commitment and I don’t think I am doing my best work. I guess I’ll keep going.
New Thinking: If I’m grinding and not enjoying it, I probably need to take a step back to evaluate what I am doing and why I am doing it.
Thoughts Lead to Actions
Of course, consistency is important. Your consistent effort compounds over time and produces outsized results.
However, consistency doesn’t mean not taking a break. Failing to take a break could cause “overuse” and diminishing results.
- Athletes cross-train taking a break from their primary sport to create muscle confusion and keep from overuse.
- Some nutrition plans call for a “cheat meal” to interrupt patterns and spike metabolism.
- A spiritual discipline is observing a sabbath – rest on the 7th day.
Learn from my experience. Don’t wait until you peter out to take the break you need. Be intentional. Think about what you might need in advance.
Are you in need of a break from something?
Ask yourself these 5 questions to assess your situation:
- What things are you pursuing consistently?
- Are any of those things wearing you down?
- Do you feel like you are just grinding it out?
- Are you questioning whether you are performing your best work?
- Do you think would benefit from a break to rest, refresh, and restart?
Take a break. Go out and live. Refresh yourself. Ready yourself to restart a new phase of consistency.
Boost Your Performance
Watch this week’s video for more discussion the importance of taking a break.
What’s Your Opinion?
Are you in need of a break from something? Let me know: robin.pou@robinpou.com
If you are going to be a leader, you might as well be a good one. Don’t let doubt count you out. Have a confident week!
Robin Pou, Chief Advisor and Strategist
We live to make bad leadership extinct so forward this newsletter to others who strive to be confident leaders.
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What is “The Confident Leader”?
During the Covid-19 Pandemic, I began a video series called “Panic or Plan?” It was designed to equip leaders to navigate the doubt they experienced and to rise in the confidence they needed to lead during turbulent times. It took off. I then started this newsletter to equip leaders in the same fashion each week for the doubt that crashes across the bow of their leaderSHIP.
