First Post!

"I wish for a deep sleep, A recovery of the richest kind, That can once more make me shine"

~Vittorio, circa 1998

Bonk…Hit the wall…Crash ‘n burn…Ran outta gas.  These are terms we use and hear all the time in the turbo-charged rat race we call life.  Aside from the occasional vacation or  fantasy of a sabbatical (yeah, right), how do really decompress?  More specifically, how do we rejuvenate on a daily or even hourly basis?

Studies show that we can only commit 90 minutes to two hours max of intense concentration before requiring a break.  And, yet, in the capitalist USA where we’re all chasing the almighty dollar, often the workforce is required to go 8+ hours without a breather.  Maybe the Euros had it right all along, with their numerous espresso breaks, 3 hour lunches, power naps, and smoking sessions.

As Corporate Wellness becomes more fully embraced, there has been a gradual shift in focus in the survey questions.  Yes, of course, it’s critical to capture high-risk health factors like smoking & diabetes and introduce programs to manage these risks.  But, many wellness professionals are of the mindset of asking “softer” questions.  These questions pertain to how they feel, how they manage stress, what their energy level is, how they reduce anxiety, etc.  Often, these issues adversely impact absenteeism & productivity far more even though they are more easily disguised.

Perhaps there’s a more effective angle to ask these sensitive, often personal, questions.  Because at the very core of all these inquiries, there may be a common underlying answer.  A better way to frame the question may be to ask “how do you recharge?”  On a daily basis, we all need to clear our heads, experience stress and anxious thoughts, have high & low energy levels, feel tired and lethargic –all sometimes on an hourly basis!

So, how do you recharge?  We all do it, by necessity, but maybe at a subconscious level.  Maybe if you introduce a formal “recharging” process into place, you may have greater sustainable energy levels and reduce stress.  I would argue it should even be scheduled in, multiple times a day, during the work week in 90 minute intervals, if possible.  These can be short mini-breaks like: 10 minute powerwalk, watering your garden, calling a friend, meditating, reading a book, playing guitar, etc.  It’s obviously an escape, or a brief interlude from the chaos around you.  But, the important thing is it is what YOU want to do and how you spend that precious li’l time, as it’s a little window to be selfish and recharge your own batteries.

Often, in all walks of life, you can judge one’s true character in how they choose to deal with adversity.  Sometimes, the essence of the person may be reflected in how they manage their own recharging process.  So...how do you recharge?