Remember what summer vacation felt like when you were 8 years old? It’s time to play! Swimming, playing tennis, hanging out with friends, riding bikes, exploring the woods, building forts, curling up with your favorite books to read for hours, Barbies and bubble baths. Whatever felt fun, that’s what you got to do — long days of endless possibilities stretching before you.
I am willing to bet you were not tied to your cellphone, feeling compelled to check in with anyone. (For some of us, cellphones were yet to be invented!) You became wholly absorbed with whatever activity you were engaging in then. As adults, many of us have lost that ability.
You know the feeling: It’s finally the end of the day, and you put your laptop to sleep, the screen’s glow disappearing so you can get a few precious hours of sleep yourself. You feel unplugged.
But it’s fleeting — you’ve forgotten to turn off your smartphone alerts, or thoughts of the last crisis that popped up start floating through your head as you attempt to drift off.
We need to do more than “unplug.” We need to unplug fully, and the only way to do so is to find unique ways to completely disconnect from our business’s energy-draining demands.
The benefits go beyond a simple break from work. When you completely unplug, you’re more likely to engage in creative activities, translating directly into better results at work. People who are more engaged in creative activities perform better on the job than those who do not have a creative outlet.
In my research, I have found that nine out of 10 entrepreneurs are burning out. The best way to prevent burnout is to develop a habit of unplugging from your business.
How to fully unplug for constructive rest:
- Make your communication boundaries clear with your team.
- Establish a set time of the day to sign off.
- Turn off app notifications on your phone.
- Set your email, Slack, etc., to vacation mode.
- Power down your computer at the end of each day.
- Assign a “go-to” person for questions when you are away from the business.
- Empower your team to handle issues should they arise.
- Establish team responsibilities.
- Delegate what you can have someone else handle.
- Explore various interests.
- Have an accountability partner.
- Establish what matters most to you and set your intentions.
This article originally appeared in Arkansas Business and is part of a series of small business commentaries by Sabrina Starling, Ph.D., bestselling author of “How to Hire the Best” and “The 4 Week Vacation,” keynote speaker, founder of tapthepotential.com and host of the “Profit by Design” podcast.
