By Mandy Green
2 minute read
At the end of each recruiting workshop I ask attendees to share their key takeaways and what they plan to implement first.
One of the strategies that has emerged as very impactful is establishing a work stop time.
Whether you’re in a leadership position or you’re an admissions counselor, the to-do list can seem never-ending.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of working late, or getting up early, and burning out.
Creating a work stop time is something that will help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, improve productivity, and ultimately, enhance your ability to support prospective students (and your team in you’re a leader).
How to set up a work stop time:
First, decide before the day begins when you are going to stop working.
Each day of the week may be different depending on your schedule.
Some days it just might not happen and that’s okay.
When I was a college soccer coach, my stop time was 3pm because I had practice starting at 3:30.
At 5:30pm, my practice was over, and I had to pick up my kids from daycare.
From 5:30-7:30pm most nights, I disconnected from work—I shut down my phone and didn’t check email.
Without guilt, I allowed myself to be a parent, a partner, exercise, play with my kids, or whatever else I needed.
This was my time to rest and recharge my batteries.
I adopted this strategy when I noticed I was getting sick frequently, felt exhausted more often than not, and found my job was starting to lose its joy for me.
Working intensely is fine, but then you need to recover. It’s a big key to consistently performing at higher levels in your current role.
Besides helping to prevent burnout, implementing a work stop time encourages prioritization of tasks since you know you can’t work around the clock, helping you stay focused and avoid distractions.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes. Email me at mandy@dantudor.com.