Recognizing the Value of Unplugging After Work

Leaders — take a break! That advice is really for everyone. However, we know that if leaders don’t model the behavior of taking time off and unplugging, their team members are less likely to care for themselves. More and more, I see team members joining meetings even though they have booked a day off or are on vacation. Their rationale is that it’s easier for them to attend a call here or there to stay informed than to come back and play catch-up. I can’t tell you how much that makes my head spin. Listen, I have been there. I have taken the “day off-ish” where it feels like you can’t untether from work, but I cannot reinforce enough how critical it is to set those boundaries….for yourself and the people you work with. Working endlessly is a direct path to burnout. Nothing will impact your efficiency and productivity more than draining every drop of your energy and attempting to push forward on fumes. Taking a break and using your PTO is how you remain focused and deliver quality results because you give your mind a chance to rest. My best ideas always come after I disconnect—not when I am running on empty. Not only do you need time away from work to breathe and reboot, but your PTO is also part of your total rewards package. You are legit leaving money on the table when you don’t take those days and many companies cap how much you can roll over into the next year. So, if you want to maximize your compensation package, take the time off! A recent LinkedIn study showed that while 54% of individual contributors check in on vacation, the number jumps to 70% for managers and 77% for senior leaders. Additionally, senior leaders also experience heightened guilt when taking time off. As leaders, every time we send an email or jump on a call when we’re supposed to be off, we send a message to our teams that they should do the same and that work matters more than their well-being. People will only feel comfortable taking time off when the company culture values it and when they see their managers embracing it. No matter where you are in your career or what you do, we all need time to recharge. It’s critical to our mental well-being and overall health, but it’s also how we remain all-star employees. Even elite athletes have days off….so if Simone Biles or Tom Brady can take a day and still be the GOAT, you can, too 😊 But in all seriousness, your time off matters. YOU matter. And if you’re a leader, you are responsible for setting the example. Take a break and inspire others to do the same. #wellbeing #takeabreak #unplug #recharge #youmatter

Being 'always on' isn't success, it's slow self-sabotage. 7 simple ways to reset and recharge: You're depleted from being plugged in all the time. Constant connections. Endless notifications. Zero downtime. Your energy is quietly draining away. This isn't sustainable success. 7 power shifts to restore your energy: 1. Start with Stillness ↳First 5 minutes no phone ↳Three deep breaths and one non-negotiable for the day 2. Create Untouchable Time ↳90 minutes daily in Do Not Disturb ↳Phone in another room to remove temptation 3. Master the Energy Stack ↳Deep work before noon when your brain is sharp ↳Shallow tasks (email/admin) for your afternoon dip 4. Practice Micro Resets ↳1 minute breathing break between tasks ↳Look at something 20 ft away for 20 seconds 5. Design Power Blocks ↳Work in 45-minute sprints - followed by a true break ↳Get up and walk or stretch during breaks 6. Set Digital Sunsets ↳No devices after 8 pm ↳Calming nighttime ritual instead 7. Use Transition Rituals ↳5-minute decompress breaks between meetings ↳Three slow breaths: in through nose, out through mouth Success isn't measured by how long you stay plugged in. It's measured by how well you recharge. First thing you'll unplug from this weekend? Share below 👇 -- ♻️ Repost to help your network recharge and reset 🔔 Follow Dr. Carolyn Frost for more evidence-based strategies to thrive at work and life Quote: Anne Lamott

The counterintuitive secret to career longevity that top performers understand ⬇️ The professionals who sustain high performance over decades aren't those who sacrifice everything for their careers—they're the ones who deliberately cultivate rich lives beyond their professional identities. This isn't just about preventing burnout (though that's certainly part of it). It's about recognizing that sustainable excellence requires strategic disengagement. Here's what the most successful leaders understand: 1. Cognitive restoration requires genuine disconnection. The brain's default mode network—responsible for creativity, insight, and strategic thinking—only fully activates when you step away from work-related problem-solving. 2. Perspective is gained through diversity of experience. The ability to see challenges from multiple angles comes from engaging with different contexts, relationships, and activities outside your industry bubble. 3. Identity resilience protects against career volatility. When your sense of self is exclusively tied to professional achievement, organizational changes or career setbacks become existential crises rather than navigable challenges. 4. Emotional intelligence develops through varied relationships. Your ability to lead effectively depends on understanding human complexity—something that develops most fully through diverse personal connections. 5. Innovation emerges from cross-pollination. The most groundbreaking ideas often come from connecting concepts across seemingly unrelated domains—connections only possible when you engage deeply with interests beyond your field. The most impactful leaders I've worked with aren't just passionate about their careers—they're equally invested in their relationships, creative pursuits, physical wellbeing, and intellectual curiosity outside work. This isn't indulgence. It's strategic investment in the foundation that makes sustainable high performance possible. What area of your life beyond work deserves more of your attention this quarter? Check out my newsletter for more insights here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju #executiverecruiter #eliterecruiter #jobmarket2025 #profoliosai #resume #jobstrategy #worklifeintegration

Did you disconnect from work while on vacation this Summer? Today's "always on" work culture feeds into the compulsion felt by workaholics and puts pressure on others to keep up. In a 2019 Adobe study, 76% of people surveyed check their work emails after hours (n = 1,000). In a Glassdoor study, 46% said they could not fully disconnect during their vacation (n = 20,000). In my recent LinkedIn Poll, 62% of respondents disconnected from work for 3 or more consecutive days when on vacation. 17% took no days off. Clearly some people feel like they have no choice but to stay plugged in. There's guilt, FOMO, and unease about getting the short end of promotions and bonuses. Although today's trend is for leaders to talk about taking time off, they often contradict themselves by sending emails or attending meetings while on vacation. Personally, I deleted the Outlook app on my phone. That has helped me turn off from work when I'm away. My out of office reply explicitly says I do not check emails while on vacation and to text me if the sky is truly falling. That signals to others they can do the same. I do not attend all meetings, even ones involving the boss. My adherence rate has been about 85% since the pandemic. I'm getting better over time. As we leave the August holiday season for most of the world and Labor Day weekend for the U.S., I encourage all leaders to unplug from work and to let their teams know they are doing exactly just that. This post was scheduled in advance. O abraço from my vacation in Portugal. #worklifebalance #PTO #boundaries