The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.  – Sydney J. Harris

We often feel like we can’t relaxed until there is a scheduled break.  We wait for spring break, that long weekend, or a summer vacation.  Planned vacations are wonderful – they provide both a specific time to relax and something to look forward to in the future.  Planning a vacation, daydreaming about the activities, and looking forward to time with family and friends is an important part of a vacation.  We must also create time to relax when it isn’t in the calendar; we must find ways to recharge when we need it most.

It is important to know when you are feeling stress; it is important to intentionally understand your own mindset.  When you are getting worn-down, when stress has a negative impact on your decision-making, how do you relax?  Do you create time to recharge and rest?

Being a martyr, working yourself to the bone, helps no one.  Pushing yourself past healthy limits, living a life that’s out of balance, doesn’t make you a better employee . . . it makes you ineffective.  Make time for yourself . . . only the best version of you is the best version of you.