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Have you ever had a stressful day? How about a difficult week or month? Well, I think we can all respond yes to all three situations. As a leader, you will have difficult days, weeks and months.
[callout]This post is part of a series based on the book Today Matters: 12 daily practices to guarantee success by Dr. John C. Maxwell.[/callout]
As the leader of my organization, my role is to champion the organization and remove barriers. I spend my days coaching and supporting my staff to meet the needs of our customers. I would love to tell you every day runs smoothly. However, that would not be an accurate reflection of a typical day.
While most days are uneventful, there are those days when I come home exhausted. It feels like I spent my entire day moving from one problem to another. So how do you rejuvenate and recharge your batteries?
Well, it starts with taking good care of yourself. That’s right. You have to take care of yourself. In the book Today Matters, John Maxwell reminds us “Today’s health gives me strength.” Eating right, exercise, and rest is essential.
Why is it important to eat right, exercise, and rest? Because
[shareable cite=”Dr. John C. Maxwell”]Your health impacts you emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually.”[/shareable]
As a leader, you can’t give what you don’t have. Therefore, it’s more important for you to take care of yourself.
When I speak to leaders concerning their health, they typically discuss their diet and exercise plan. They discuss the pros and cons of low carb, high fat, gluten-free diets. Some leaders prefer to work out in the gym. They attend Zumba or spin classes or weight lifting. Others prefer working out at home with the latest at-home equipment or going for a run or brisk walk.
The topic missing from most leader’s discussion is rest. Most leaders undervalue the importance of rest. However, research has shown rest is just as important as a healthy diet and exercise.
So, what are the benefits of rest? According to Dr. Richard Dicenso, there are six reasons to get more rest:
- It helps with learning and memory
- Helps the body process and store carbohydrates and effects hormone levels
- Reduces mistakes and lapses in judgment
- Reduces irritability and moodiness
- Improves cardiovascular health
- Strengthens your immune system
When we take time to rest, it allows our mind, body, and soul to recharge. Therefore, we can start the next day refreshed and ready to lead!
So, let me ask you this again;
Why is it important for a leader to take time to rest?
Your leadership guide,
Kim
Dr. Kim Moore | Your Leadership Guide | kimdmoore.com
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