In the fast paced world we live in, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. Sleep is often the first activity to be sacrificed when we have a particularly hectic week at the office. Vacations are also welcome escapes from the craziness, yet we don’t escape as often as we should.
What if we could escape anytime or any- where we wanted? We can.
Peak performers create daily or weekly personal retreats to re-energize or cool-off, as opposed to pushing themselves to the brink of burnout. They use these retreats to recharge their personal batteries.
What does it mean to recharge your personal battery?
It means to engage in an activity that decompresses your tension, rests your body, clears your mind and makes you feel alive.
For some people, it may mean spending quiet time alone, reconnecting with nature on a hike or taking in the vast open water. For others, it may mean listening to music that allows them to get lost in their thoughts. Many people have a structured meditation practice or prayer ritual. And all of us will benefit from high quality sleep.
For me, free walking is the method I use to recharge my personal battery. What do I mean by free walking? When I finish work for the day, I know that I’m heading in the direction of home, but I have no firm timeline and no clear path. I may wander into a bookstore, take a back and forth route through the city streets or make a purposeful detour to people-watch in the city square. Free walking allows my mind to completely unwind and wander. The mild form of exercise is good for my body, and the freedom is great for my mind and spirit.
When I lived in Seattle, I walked every possible route between my office near Pike’s Place Market and my home at 4th and Virginia. For those of you who know Seattle, you would realize this is normally a ten-minute walk. But I would often find myself at a bookstore in Pioneer Square, buying a snack in the international district or at one of the many local cafes which happened to have a live musician playing that evening.
So, just as I spend a few extra minutes to take the long walk home, take a few moments everyday to be alone with your thoughts. Engage in a daily ritual that will recharge your energy and help you balance the pace of the modern world.
The above post is an excerpt from Edwin’s book: “Fit for the Corner Office: An Executive Health Guidebook to Achieve Peak Performance at Work and in Life.”