In our hyper-connected world, you’re expected to be at the beck and call of the organization you lead. This expectation can drain you and take a toll on your weekends.
They’re no longer sacred. They’re no longer set aside for rest.
Instead, you’re worried about what could go wrong.
Image by Evan Rummel
You can’t live like this. No one can. At some point, you’re going to crack.
All because you couldn’t disconnect and leave your work behind while enjoying the weekend.
You can change all of that. You can create an environment where you can have a better weekend.
5 Ways A Leader Can Have A Better Weekend
Rest is important. Our bodies were designed to have a regular rhythm. One we often ignore.
So, let’s see what we can do to make our weekends better and more restful.
- Go into Do Not Disturb mode:I’ve been known to go into hermit, or do not disturb, mode on more than one occasion. Typically, this happens on our escape to St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.An amazing thing happens when you cross the Mackinac Bridge – Cell phone signal can be spotty or non-existent. This means I’m in my Do Not Disturb mode.You might not go to a remote area on your weekends. You can still create a Do Not Disturb mode in your life.When the clock hits 5 PM on Friday, have your phone set to only accept phone calls and texts from those you want to hear from. Create a list of family members, friends, and loved ones and send the other calls to your voicemail.
- Plan a fun activity:You plan your business activities. You schedule in your priorities on your calendar. But do you schedule in fun activities that rejuvenate you?If you’re like most seemingly high performers, the answer is probably no. You don’t.What’s the old saying? All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. I say All work and no play makes a leader a dull person.Discover something you love, plan a weekend around the activity, and do it.
- Get a round or two of physical activity in:Nothing gets the blood going like a good cardio workout. To have a better weekend, make sure you get in one or two exercises.A cheat I’ve used to get this in is to take Lok, our Vizsla, out for a walk or two Saturday and Sunday. Not only does he get worn out by the walk, I exert energy as well.For you, it could be playing with your son or hiking the backwoods of Oregon.Whatever you do, find ways to become active during your weekends.
- Keep your regular sleep schedule:Do you ever feel more worn out after a weekend than during the week? I can point out at least one reason: You changed your sleep schedule for a brief period of time.Doing late nights and early mornings will drain your energy and make you feel sluggish.Try to keep your regular sleep schedule, even during the weekend. This will help you have a better weekend.
- Go to a church service:A highlight of my weekend is attending church at Gateway Church. There, I get fed and am able to rub shoulders with other men of faith.There’s nothing like being in the house of God to get me primed for the week to come.Try attending a church service regularly. Doing so can change your life.
