You’ve been working hard. Long days bleed into long nights followed by early mornings. You wear your tenacity like a badge of honor. This is what it takes to grow a business. This is the commitment and perseverance that separates the successful leaders from the rest of the pack. You’ll slow down when you’ve found success. After all, rest is the reward for the focus and relentless pursuit of your goals. Sound familiar?
This is the story we’ve been told for much too long now. We admire the tireless laborer pressing toward the pinnacle of their career. We celebrate the commitment of keeping one’s nose to the grindstone, pressing forward.
“Don’t stop when you’re tired, stop when you are done,” said endurance athlete David Groggins. Maybe Groggins meant that quote to be taken literally, or maybe he didn’t. If he did, he was wrong. Rest is not a luxury. Rest is a requirement. The truth is the quality of our leadership is directly influenced by the quality of our rest.
Even Superman had the “Fortress of Solitude.” It was a place where the hero could retreat for rest and recharging. It was a space to study and contemplate. Why does this fictional hero’s vacation abode matter? Because it reminds us that forgoing rest isn’t heroic. Those long days of work we may consider an accomplishment to be lauded puts us at real risk. The World Health Organization found that people working 55 hours a week or more had a higher risk of stroke and ischemic heart disease.
Yes, sometimes entrepreneurs and other leaders need to burn the midnight oil, but when we make that intense schedule our norm, we do so to our detriment. Beyond the literal health risk of overwork, there is the direct impact on our ability to lead and complete the tasks needed to reach our goals. When we are well rested, we think more clearly, make better decisions, communicate more effectively, and show up with greater patience and energy for the people we serve. When we treat rest as a reward, we lose those benefits.
It takes a lot of time and energy to train for a marathon – and it should. You’re running 26.2 miles in a single stretch. That takes perseverance. Long distance runners don’t just pop up off the couch one day and cross the finish line the next. They train. They build muscle. They cultivate endurance. They run. And they rest.
“In the world of long-distance running, rest and recovery are not just about taking a break; they’re fundamental components of an effective training regimen,” wrote Dawn Nunes, an advanced practitioner physiotherapist for PureSportsMedicine. Nunes continues explaining that rest and recovery allow the body to “facilitate muscle repair and growth, allowing the body to adapt to the increased demands of training.” The same principle applies to entrepreneurs and other business leaders. Your calves and hamstrings may not need the break, but your mind surely does. Growing a business is a marathon. Work like you’re training for one.
It’s worth saying again: Rest is a necessity. Plan for it. Make it part of your process. Build in space to take breaks. Not just some time out of the office on the weekend. Build in space for a total disconnect at least one day a week. Don’t look at your email. Don’t scan the notes. Don’t log in. One day a week, work is completely off limits. Don’t stop there. Make space for lunch away from your desk. Go for a walk. Sit with a friend and talk about anything other than the work at hand. One night a week take a class just for fun or hit the gym. Create space in your week to catch your breath and do something that fires you up and gives you life.
As noted above, rest makes you a better leader. It helps us think more clearly. It fosters creativity. It helps us make better decisions. We are better workers when we make space to pause from work. Build breaks into your timelines. Make room to be better by being rested.
A rested team is a better team. Your team will excel when they are making space for rest. They will be more creative, more focused, healthier and happier. Getting them to step away from constant grind and high pressure go-go-go that many have embraced as a sign of commitment and achievement starts with your example.
When you prioritize rest as a success strategy, your team will, too. Your decision to work like a marathon runner who sees value in the downtime will reap rewards not only for yourself, but for your staff – and as a result, for your business.
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