Lexington, KY - How do you recharge your batteries? It's a daily necessity for some, weekly (or longer) for others. At some point, we simply have to unplug and relax in order to get fired up again. Keeping the engine of life and business running requires maintenance, which includes downtime. So, how do you recharge your batteries?
Bill Dotson, president/co-owner of WebMedley
www.webmedley.com
Solitude. Being with people energizes me, but it also taxes me and I need time to regroup. My daily communication involves about 50-plus people per day, so time alone allows me to relax. Switching off my phone and e-mail allows me to focus on either being alone or being with others - family, especially. My monthly Vistage meeting (peer group) is a great way to give and receive help, which recharges the batteries. A good cigar and Milagro tequila on the rocks. When I'm on my deck at home, I'll have one of each, and it sets the tone where all of the daily stresses fade away. I also enjoy vacations to the ocean and foreign cities, especially Geneva and Paris, and times when my wife, Jen, and I are alone together, whether it's at home or out.
Leslie Guttman, author of Equine ER: Stories From a Year in the Life of an Equine Veterinary Hospital
www.equineer.blogspot.com
All week long, I look forward to Saturday afternoon and "The Nap." Sometimes when I'm stressed out and overworked during the week, I get relief by thinking ahead to Saturday afternoon, when I unplug somewhere between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and stretch out on the couch with no plans, no alarm set to go off and no commitments. I give myself permission to sleep and to not feel guilty about anything I need to do, or anyone I need to call or e-mail. In the United States, unlike other countries, we seem to have a hard time with the art of doing nothing, and it is an art, isn't it? Other ways I recharge: I get lost in a book or re-read my favorites. One is Skillful Means by Tarthang Tulku. I never fail to find inspiration in this simple, beautiful handbook for life. I also love to re-read anything by E.B. White, including his essays and shorter pieces. Something small that always gives me a big lift is quotations, such as W. H. Auden's "A real book is not one that's read, but one that reads us."
Alexander Loudon VI, D.C./owner, Chiropractic for Living
www.LexChiro.com
Recharging, as I think of it, can be of different types. On a daily basis, getting a good night's sleep, spending time with my family and eating well are the main ingredients. Throw in a small measure of personal time and that's about all I can fit into one work day. In addition to this basic formula, I like to spend time periodically working on projects for the house, particularly building things from wood. The process of concentrating on something that is completely outside my normal routine is actually quite relaxing. Finally, although vacations are great, what really helps me to recharge is to take the family for a long weekend at a friend's house (preferably out of state!). There's something about being somewhere without an agenda, without the responsibilities of being at home, and in the company of friends that lets you relax and rest like no other place.
Phil Osborne, CEO, Preston-Osborne Marketing Communications & Research
www.preston-osborne.com
Four years ago my wife, Jennifer, and I bought this little house on Lake Cumberland. What's gratifying is that we did all of the work ourselves, including painting or refinishing the furniture, which was all Goodwill, Salvation Army or old hand-me-downs. It was a lot of work at first, but now it's our retreat and recharge station. A weekend on the lake with the boat during the day and at night, a cold beverage and hot grill: nothing finer. Jennifer is the real battery recharger. After almost five years, I still come home to an appreciative wife with a smile on her face that brings one to mine, regardless of how bad the day may have been. And one word of advice that has kept me sane was to hire people who are smarter than I am and then get out of their way. We (Preston-Osborne) have a tremendous and talented team.
Kathie Stamps is the co-founder of www.ISBO.biz, an online directory of independent/small business owners.