I was talking to a guy the other day, and he said he hadn’t had a day off in 28 days.
Yikes. (Isn’t that a horror movie? Oh no, that’s “28 Days Later” but working 28 straight days seems like a horror movie)
I was like, “OMG…why not?” And he just kind of shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal…but his body language told a completely different story.
Twenty-eight straight days of work.
Now, some of us might not think that’s a big deal. We’ve all done it at some point, pushing through long stretches, grinding day after day. Some of us still do.
But there’s a big difference between working 28 days straight at something you love – something that feeds your purpose – and working 28 days straight at something that just pays the bills.
And I got the sense this guy was doing the latter. Could be wrong…but I don’t think I am…he worked retail for a big box retailer (ugh).
It was depressing to see.
I told him, “Man, you need to take tomorrow off. Seriously. Take a day to recharge, decompress, clear out the sludge clogging your mental and emotional pipelines.”
He needed an Enrichment Day.
I love Enrichment Days. They’re my secret weapon against burnout. An Enrichment Day is when you intentionally clear your head and then refill it with things that inspire you, excite you, and remind you why you’re here in the first place.
Sleep in a little.
Go for a run.
Eat breakfast slowly (not scarf it down while checking emails).
Read that book collecting dust on your nightstand.
Take a nap.
Go for a walk – with no phone, no headphones.
Just you, your thoughts, and maybe a decent cup of coffee (Janet’s coffee…yum!).
Enrichment Days are like plugging your charger into the wall. You can’t run on empty forever. Eventually the screen dims, the apps close, and you crash.
If we want to create an environment that allows success to happen, that means taking care of the most important tool we have…ourselves.
When I start to feel “blah,” when life feels heavy and work feels flat, I take an Enrichment Day. It always resets my mind, clears the clutter, and brings back a spark of excitement.
So if you’ve been going nonstop lately this is your sign. Take a day. Call it what you want, but make it yours.
You deserve an Enrichment Day too.
Quote of the Day:
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes…including you.” – Anne Lamott
MattMunnell.com 