Lead by Example - Creating a Culture of Rest

 The emphasis you place on rest makes an impact on others. How you view rest and what steps you take to integrate it into your life doesn’t go unnoticed. Your example and impact can help create a culture of rest for those under your influence.

The last couple of months I have integrated more rest into my schedule. It wasn’t easy to reevaluate the way I invested my time, but I looked at each of the activities I was participating in each day, and then remodeled my schedule. Some of the activities that I spent hours on had to be reduced, while the time on other activities had to be increased.

For example, my personal choice has been to cut down the hours I spend writing the blog posts for Stepping Stones. This means I’m unable to post Monday through Friday; however, I’m planning to schedule posts for each week. In place of my blog writing time I’ve added some physical activity...walking and fishing. I’ve also had to schedule some client time because I’ve offered a new Family Legacy Book Project to those wanting to write their family histories. This project has been a blast, and it helps families capture their memories, record their traditions, and share their stories.

Whether you are an entrepreneur, manager, parent, or have a tribe of friends, you are a leader. People look to one another all the time and observe. They notice people who have their act together and want to emulate what they do to keep themselves healthy. Whether they know it or not, people are leading by example all the time.

If you’ve been following the blog, you know that living an Intentional Life comes from finding purpose, setting goals, and taking the action needed to accomplish them. This all comes from making the decisions that are right for your life, that align with your values, and that bring you personal joy. This is why it is important to establish a culture of rest.

 What is a culture of rest?

 A culture of rest refers to the standard you place on rest in your daily life. It relates to how you incorporate rest into your routine at work and at home. If rest is part of your culture, then it stands out as a primary element of how you structure your life.

This is something I had set aside, especially when the pandemic hit. I invested more of my time to work on projects that had been put aside, like writing my books, helping others to publish, and speaking at different events. My goal has always been to reach more people, inspire them to set goals, and encourage them to take action so they can achieve their heart’s desires. So, I added additional appointment times to my schedule, spent more time working at the computer, and less time engaging in restful activities.

Then, as I was working with a client, I had an “aha” moment. My schedule had become overwhelming and work had taken over...I had forgotten the value I had put on rest and needed to get back to my own Intentional Life by reflecting on how I would create a culture of rest.

 How can I create a culture of rest?

 You can create a culture of rest by setting up your work and private time to include rest. Additionally, you can encourage those around you to make rest a priority in their on and off-duty lives as well. Some ideas might include:

 Creating schedules that include breaks and reasonable work hours- Many people fail to take breaks during the day or work long after their creative energy is expended. Encouraging people to work reasonable hours with breaks and finishing when their energy is spent can help.

 Model healthy examples of “balance”- Those you influence are always watching. Modeling healthy balances between screen time and activity time, resting and being physically active, engaging others and being solitary all model healthy balances.

 Take vacations and be open about the value of rest- Actively going on vacations and speaking to the importance of taking a break helps encourage and empower others to do the same. 

If you value rest and make it a priority in your own lifestyle, it will influence and make an impact on those you lead. Having a healthy mindset about rest and articulating your support for rest will help normalize the concept and the overall health of those you lead will rise overall. Healthier people are more productive, easier to be around, and generally have a better attitude about life.

What’s your attitude about life? Are you making rest a priority?

Leading by example, join me in creating a culture of rest by respecting yourself, your time, and your energy.

Until next time...

Lisa

P.S. You can check out the  Family Legacy Book Project...It’s a great gift for children and grandchildren to learn and remember their family history.