Breathe

Effective leaders in life and in business take breaks to think, to be strategic, to make room for new ideas and to just breathe.  In the rush of life, in the madness that can occur in running a business the real movement and growth comes from a leader that takes time for solitude. In these moments of solitude, the mind is free to relax, free to discover new methods and to renew the energy required to navigate the road ahead.

Follow these 6 steps below to effectively breathe and improve your performance:

1. Set a time each day to be quiet, remain still and gather thoughts.  The best time is when you first wake up and greet the day.
2. Set a time each week that you will remove yourself from fighting the fight and just dream about what the future can be.  Literally, block out your schedule.
3. Schedule one fun day/night per month.  If married or dating, regardless of your age, keep dating.  At work, schedule a lunch, a happy hour, something fun for you and your team.  Don't talk business, just enjoy the time.
4. Plan a vacation, and take it, at least one a year.  If finances are an issue to keep you from traveling, still use the time to be away from the normal routine and play.  Go to the park, have a picnic, see a movie or go to the zoo.
5. Always be reading a book that has nothing to do with your work.
6. Keep notes of what you come up with in your quiet times and breaks.  These concepts and thoughts are important to action steps needed to grow.