You need a break...Here's how to get it
Dear Essentialists,
We all need a break.
Many of us are facing burnout because we're always available. Cell phones ring at every hour. Emails arrive around the clock. 24/7 availability has become the standard.
The pandemic only accelerated this evaporation of boundaries. There are perks of working from home, but one of the drawbacks is that we have lost one of our last safe havens.
Taking time to escape isn't just a luxury - it's essential.
Only by taking time to think, dream, and plan are we able to discern the essential few from the trivial many in our lives.
But one thing is certain, we won’t get this time by default - only by design.
How can you design consistent time to escape?
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Here are a few ideas:
Whether you invest two hours a day, two weeks a year, or 20 minutes each morning, you will never regret making time to escape.
“In solitude, you create your life.” ― Nitin Namdeo
In gratitude,
Greg
Don't miss this week's episode of the What's Essential podcast? This week I discuss the 10X Dilemma and how to solve it. Learn 5 ways you can achieve breakthrough results without burning out. Listen here.
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3yThanks for this article! Indeed, taking a break is such a big win. People think that it is wrong to take a break when there's a lot to do, but sometimes, it's really the most practical thing to do!
Patient Experience Navigator at Stanford Children's Health
3yGreat advice Greg!
Empowering C-Suite leaders to grow teams and brands through custom-built training workshops | 65000+ employees trained and counting | Certified Instructional Designer & Trainer | Disney Institute trained CX Professional
3yExcellent article Greg McKeown and one of the hardest habits to break (well, for me), is rolling over as soon as my eyes open to check the cellphone to see what I missed while asleep. Now that I think on it, it's such an overwhelming way to start the day! So this idea from your list was my biggest takeaway: "Start your day tech-free. Spend the first twenty minutes of your day reading, thinking, and meditating." Gonna start on that from tomorrow; thanks for sharing! And if anyone else here checks their phone as soon as they wake up, tell me. No-one wants to be out on a limb all alone 😁
Trusted Advisor; Senior Energy Executive; Founder & President of RJW Consulting; Vice-Chairman Board of Directors at International Gas & Energy Forum (IGEF); Senior Advisor to Komunika Latam.
3y“…we won’t get this time by default - only by design.” Brilliant! That’s what I call discretionary time (vs residual time).
Founder, Unhustle® | Leading an Anti-Burnout Rebellion | Global Speaker | Author (2025) | Creator of The Unhustle Collective | Podcast Host | Get daily updates on the art and science of unhustling and thrive
3ySuch a key habit is making time to do nothing. My morning has been different with starting without tech abs time to write and read. We can do it Greg McKeown. It just takes discipline and practice.