Written by: Rasheda Hatchett, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
In a world that's constantly moving, it's hard not to feel you'll be left behind if you're not taking part in the day-to-day grind of continually feeling the need to be "doing something." As an entrepreneur, the squeeze of constantly going and being a "jill of all trades" in your business can feel like the only acceptable way to work. However, measuring yourself against the social media memes calling for you to "Get up and grind," "Sleep when your dead," "Hustle all day" can cause severe burnout and leave you hating the business that was supposed to be your freedom from the rat race.
Contrary to popular opinion, rest is one of the most significant predictors of productivity and essential to thriving. Think about how foggy, disorganized, and unmotivated you feel when your mind and body haven't gotten the rest they need. Lack of rest can be debilitation and cause you to feel like you're spinning your wheels in the mud.
Our society has fooled us into believing that rest is only for the weekends and when we're resting, we aren't being productive, but rest is a daily necessity that produces improved energy, mood, focus, creativity and boosts the immune system.
As a business owner, you need rest to be your best self, provide excellent customer outcomes, lead your team effectively, and be present with your family.
Whether it is sleep, taking a break to rest your mind, or taking a day off from the gym to rest your muscles, rest is vital to your success.
These four steps can help you get more rest to increase your productivity to get things done!
1. Listen to your body: Your body will always tell you what it needs. Aches, pain, and muscle tightness are signs that the body requires rest and restoration. If you're feeling run down, tired, or even have a headache, it is time to give your body a break. "Running on fumes" is not sustainable and can have significant health implications.
Try checking your body at the top of each hour. Ask yourself these questions "Do I feel tired?" "Am I hungry?" "Do I feel pain in my back, shoulder, or have a headache?" "Do I feel overwhelmed?" If you feel this way, it's time to take a break or stop for the day and come back to it after you've rested.
Get up and stretch. It may be time to move and get your blood flowing. It can be challenging to focus when your body is aching or in pain. Find a quiet place to move and stretch your limbs. It is essential to leave your desk for a change of scenery.
2. Let your mind lead you. If you're unfocused or cloudy, don't simply shrug it off as a lack of motivation and try to push through. Instead, recognize that your mind may be tired and in need of a mental break.
Take a break and leave the task; if you're unfocused, you won't unlock the creativity you need to finish the job with clarity. Remember it's okay to leave it and come back after you are rested and can give it your best.
Give yourself permission give your mind a break. You may go for a walk, call a friend, listen to soothing music, read a book, or watch something on television. The key is to let your mind relax and come back to the project refreshed.
3. Prioritize 8-10 hours of sleep nightly. It can seem that there is always something to do, and you need to stay up late to get it done; however, depriving your body of proper sleep is not a sustainable solution. The body needs this much sleep to rest and rejuvenate. As you sleep, your cells are healing and getting prepared for another day of work. Give your body the proper amount of rest so it can function at its best.
Create a night routine, try setting an alarm that alerts you when it's time to stop working and get ready for bed. You might try to turn off the television and lights. A night routine can help the mind wind down and prepare itself for sleep.
4. Look for ways to rest while you are awake. Resting isn't only about sleep; you may need to rest and take a break from social media, the news, stressful conversations, or family concerns. Try reading, praying, sitting on the beach, watching the waves, or looking out at the mountains. The key is to find creative ways to rest when you're not tired and in need of sleep.
Remember, as an entrepreneur, you're a whole person, you have life and your business, and each of them may require you to take a break and rest. You are an essential factor in the success of your business, and if you are not well-rested, you're not able to perform at your best. Not only do your clients need you to be at your best, but your team and your family also need you at your best. So, give yourself the best shot at increasing your productivity through the power of rest.
Rasheda Hatchett, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Rasheda is a leader in resilience-based leadership and burnout prevention. After finding herself loving her nursing career, but suffering from panic attacks and burnt-out, she began to work to create strategies to not only recover from burnout but to thrive in the face of adversity. She is now dedicated to helping other women on the rise move audaciously into their next level to create the life, career, and businesses they’ve dreamt of. She is the CEO of Rasheda Hatchett Media, a coaching and consulting firm sFteeped in her passion for leadership and wellness. Her clients include Kaiser Permanente- Washington, University of Washington, National Black Nurses Association, Black Doctor.org, and RNterprise Academy. Rasheda is an award-winning nurse leader and was the recipient of the 2019 Federal Way Public Schools Hero award for her community work and the 2019 Black Nurses Rock Leadership Academy- Fellowship Challenge Winner, for her outstanding leadership. She is a best-selling author, and the author of Sis, It’s Time to Thrive: A Unicorns Guide to Loving Yourself Audaciously, Living Large: A Nurses Journey Toward Resilience, and The Power of Organizational Resilience: How to Retain Talent and Increase Your Bottom Line. Rasheda helps organizations build resilient workforces through workshops focusing on building personal, team, and organizational resilience. She is dedicated to educating and guiding people from burnout to resilience and thriving.
