Last night, I went to bed thinking about work and woke up thinking about work. Needless to say, the sleep in between wasn’t the best. Has this ever happened to you? Worse yet, have you ever dreamed about work?

John Steinbeck once said, “It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it.” Last night reminded me that it is critical to put my work to bed before I put myself to bed. I encourage all of us to establish daily, weekly, monthly and yearly routines that enable us to ‘shut down’ and live in the moment of family, friends, faith, hobbies, or other personal pursuits. A 30-minute walk, date night with a significant other, or a well-timed family vacation can make all the difference in clearing your mind, facilitating quality sleep, AND improving your effectiveness on the job.

At CEEK we actively pursue a weekly ritual to ‘Disconnect to Reconnect.’ This is weekly time during traditional business hours in which we pursue any ‘offline’ activity, or simply rest, to restore our energy and remind ourselves of each other’s humanity. I encourage leaders to find creative ways to promote a culture that values the health and balance of your colleagues. You may just be surprised by the impact it will have on morale, engagement, and business results. Set the example and CEEK…a Better Way!