Situation: A CEO fills nearly every minute of the day with activities. All these meaningful to him and the company, and he enjoys the contribution that he is making. However, he fears that he is beginning to burn out. Is burning the candle at both ends doing harm or creating the legend? How do you strike a healthy work/life balance?
Advice from the CEOs:
- We are best at what makes us happy. We are the only individuals who can really monitor our activities, so we must set both our own priorities and the metrics.
- The priority is a positive, healthy lifestyle. What may be getting in the way?
- Getting enough sleep. Medical studies indicate that while some people can get along on 6 hours of sleep per night, most need 7-8. Those who get less than 6 hours on a regular basis are taxing their bodies as well as their psyches. Are you are not getting enough sleep to sustain your current level of activity? Is the recovery time from strenuous activity increasing? If so, your body is telling you something!
- Quality time with significant others. Are you spending enough quality time with your spouse and children? On a regular basis, not on a once-per-week evening out. Is your family receiving the time and attention that they need, or are they sending signals that they need more? Given the importance of these relationships, not just now but looking out 10-20 years, perhaps it is necessary to reallocate proprieties.
- Create monitors to assure that you are not over committing and that you are giving sufficient time to rest and your family. After all, this is a marathon. You don’t want to burn out in the first mile!
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