It was 10 p.m. on a Tuesday when I began working on this column.
I was propped up in bed, with a computer on my lap, watching the
MLB All-Star Game. It was two weeks before this magazine was
scheduled to be published, which means my column was about six
weeks past our editorial deadline.
My wife curiously peered over my shoulder and asked what I was
doing.
Writing a column about the importance of a work-life-health balance for executives who tend to be workaholics, I explained.
As an example, I was discussing how our just-completed, three-day family vacation to Rochester and Canada was a much-needed
respite from the breakneck pace of work at Smart Business
Network over the previous three months.
Laura nodded, laughed, then pointed out the humor in me sitting
in bed late, stressing out over missed deadlines and doing something completely opposite to what I was telling our readers to do.
She was right.
I shut down the computer, finished watching the ballgame and
decided to hammer out the column when I arrived at the office the
next morning.
A common trait among successful leaders is a dedication to
doing whatever is needed to get the job done or, in my case, get the publication out the door with all the content included. Often, that
means skipping lunch, working long hours, taking work home over
the weekend and, sometimes, even forgoing vacations for years at
a time.
Eventually, however, the never-ending pace of work catches up
with you, and you find that no matter what you do, you can’t get
work off your mind and, even more important, you can’t seem to
relax.
At that point, like Henry David Thoreau, it’s time to get a better
understanding of simple living again by taking a few moments for
yourself and resetting your reality.
Whether it’s seclusion at a friend’s cabin in the woods, like
Thoreau, a long weekend without your Blackberry attached to your
hip, or simply a lazy afternoon spent sipping iced tea, and playing
with your children or grandchildren, sometimes it’s necessary to go
against your better instincts and leave your work-related tasks at the
office so that you can clear your head and relax.
As for me, I finished this column feeling more relaxed and, by
taking some time away from the office, now have a little better perspective of balance.
Contact Editor Dustin Klein at [email protected]