Twenty-twenty was a trying year for many of us. Many people lost their jobs. Others, like me, lost family members. And others are still trying to figure out their lives.
Not only did 2020 try us, 2020 tired us.
Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash
I’m looking back on 2020 and seeing all of the areas that have pushed me and worn me out. Some of the ways I was worn out was:
- Going into a government-mandated shutdown
- Working through difficult board decisions
- Losing my father
- Taking a week away only to come home to a sewer backup caused by the failure of the city of Muskegon to maintain their sewer lines
I felt broken. I felt worn out. I felt tired.
I don’t think there’s been a year where I’ve ever felt this defeated. Talking to other leaders, I know I am not alone in this.
What To Do When You Are Tired
We are all going to become tired at some point. We leaders tend to push ourselves to the breaking point on a regular basis.
Staying tired… That’s something that needs to be fixed. And we can.
We can work out ways to regain our energy, our zeal, our zest for life and leadership.
We need to work on ourselves and our situations. Today, I want to present 4 things we can do when we’re tired.
1. Get away:
We become tired because we fail to get away from the pressure of our leadership positions. We tend to see our dedication to our craft as a badge of honor.
I think back to October. It was the last month of my father’s life. On the last day of his life, I had a board meeting I was supposed to attend.
I felt guilty for stepping away from the board meeting to be with my family. I felt like I was letting down the other board members and the church.
In reality, I needed to get away. I needed to spend time with my family.
There’s not shame in getting away from the responsibilities of your organization when needed.
Don’t feel guilty. Don’t feel ashamed.
Realize that getting away is something we all need to do.
2. Rest:
I’ve been around leaders who brag about the little amount of sleep they get. They brag about getting 3 hours of sleep and how productive they are.
Then, I see them crash.
We cannot push our bodies to the limit and expect to be at our best. Our bodies need rest.
This means getting the proper amount of sleep. For most of us, 7-9 hours of sleep will put us at our best.
Make sure you’re getting enough rest. Without it, you will crash.
3. Partake in a hobby:
I love movies. I love reading comic books. I love running. And I love working out.
These are a few of my hobbies. I have no shame in saying that I enjoy these activities.
I know there are leaders who struggle with the idea of finding a hobby. Of finding something they enjoy.
They believe participating in a hobby reduces their productivity and they’re wasting their time.
That’s baloney.
A hobby helps leaders refresh, reconnect, and rejuvenate.
You might be tired because you haven’t done anything for yourself.
4. Change your diet:
Your diet has a lot to do with the way you feel. If you improperly fuel your body, your body will respond with a feeling of tiredness.
Look at your diet. See what you’re eating.
Is it a lot of processed junk? Do you go for the tub of Chocolate Moose Tracks ice cream when you get home? Or is it the Cool Ranch Doritos that you find yourself consuming a full bag in a single sitting?
All of this adds up to extra wear and tear on your body.
Look at what you can do to change your diet. Find higher quality foods that nourish your body.
All of these things will help you recover from the tiredness you’re feeling. It does your body good to get away, eat healthy, rest, and do something fun.
Try it. You won’t regret it.
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