Taking a break to be a better boss & employee

I’ve always been a career-driven type of woman.

During my first job out of college, I’ve learned the real reason for weekends.

They’re time for you to take a breath, relax, catch up on sleep, dive into your guitly pleasures and spend quality time with your favorite people.

For a while I thought that being 100 percent submerged in work would make me a better employee and eventually a better boss. I’ve come to realize that isn’t true.

You have to take a break to look at what you’re doing from another perspective.

It’s sort of like dating, you see your lover every single day in the exact same setting and it becomes the norm. Once you take a few days away, you remember why you’ve invested your time and energy into the relationship. Sometimes you get an extra jolt to jump right in and change things up.

Here are some great ways to back away from the job but stay engaged.

Soak up your weekends

This is your deserved break. Make sure your weekends count. If you have a type-a personality, make every hour count. Plan a dinner and movie for Friday night. Kayak at 9 a.m. on Saturday and run around with family the rest of the day. Or, if you like to take a backseat on your free days, sleep in, hang out, wear your PJs all day long. No matter what, this is your time to shine. You killed it at work and you need some "you time" in order to do it all over again next week. 

To email or not to email

Everyone has different anxieties when it comes to emails. Personally, I like to check them every few hours so they don’t pile up into the triple digits. I compare it to sports where I want the highlights not a play-by-play. Other people like to ignore those never-ending emails until Monday morning. Find what makes you at ease. Emails may seem like something small, but can make a big difference when you’re trying to stay present outside of work.

 

Go to a conference

 

Yeah, it’s still considered work to some, but it’s a new environment with new people. You’re out of your usual grind and I think this is a great way to stay engaged in work but still jump out of your normal routine. Find sessions or meetups that really grab your attention. It’s time well spent and if you’re willing to learn, a conference will give you a new outlook on work.

 In the end, kick ass at work but remember to kick off your shoes when you’re done.