Finding Strategies to Stay Energized at Work

Here are 8 habits I rely on (and often suggest to others) to stay ambitious without burning out: 1️⃣ Give your ambition a time limit. Think of deep work like a meeting with your future self. Block 90 minutes early in the day, silence your phone, and go all in. When the time’s up, stop, even if you’re mid-flow. Boundaries build focus and prevent work from spilling into everything. 2️⃣ Have a “minimum viable evening.” Pick one thing that helps you unplug, cooking dinner, a walk at sunset, reading to your kid, and treat it like it’s non-negotiable. That one ritual signals the end of the workday and gives your brain a clear off-switch. 3️⃣ Check your energy, not just your to-do list. Every Friday, jot down which tasks gave you energy and which drained it. After a few weeks, you’ll see patterns. Start removing or outsourcing one draining task at a time. Over time, your schedule will start to feel less like a grind. 4️⃣ Stick to two big projects. If you’re wired to chase new ideas, this one’s hard, but worth it. Limit yourself to one main focus at work and one personal goal. Everything else goes into a “not now” list you revisit monthly. Less chaos, more progress. 5️⃣ Plan for lighter weeks. Athletes don’t train hard every day, and neither should we. Once a quarter, block a week with fewer meetings, more sleep, and no extra side projects. Building in rest makes you more resilient and keeps burnout at bay. 6️⃣ Move your body, clear your head. Doesn’t have to be fancy. A short workout, a run, yoga, anything that gets your heart rate up will help you reset and stay sharp. Exercise isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a focus tool. 7️⃣ Short naps, big reset. Around that post-lunch slump, a 10–20 minute nap can seriously recharge you, no grogginess, just a clean mental reboot. Set a timer, close your eyes, and treat it like hitting refresh. 8️⃣ Group your tasks by vibe. Instead of switching between totally different things all day, chunk your time into themes, meetings, deep work, admin, etc. Then batch similar tasks together. Your brain stays in one lane longer, which helps with momentum. Start small, try one of these this week. You don’t need to slow down your ambition to feel more in control.

Success shouldn't cost your sanity. 5 simple boundaries to protect your peace: I used to think that being successful meant being always available. Always responsive. Always on. But behind the scenes? I was stretched thin, snapping at everyone, and silently wondering why I felt so off. Even when everything looked “right” from the outside. Turns out, success that costs your sanity isn’t success at all. Here are 5 simple boundaries that shift everything ✨ 1) The Digital Cutoff ↳ Put your phone away 60 minutes before bed ↳ Your sleep quality will transform immediately 2) The Inbox Schedule ↳ Check email at 10am and 3pm only ↳ Tell your team when to expect responses 3) The Morning Shield ↳ No screens for the first 30 minutes of your day ↳ Start with intention, not reaction 4) The Meeting Buffer ↳ Add 5-10 minutes between calls ↳ Your brain needs transition time to perform at its best 5) The Personal Priority ↳ Schedule "unreachable hours" with loved ones ↳ Be fully present when it matters most (you will never regret this) Boundaries aren't selfish. They're a necessity ✨ Which boundary makes the difference for you this week? -- ♻️ Repost to help your network protect their wellbeing without sacrificing results 🔔 Follow Dr. Carolyn Frost for more practical strategies for success without burnout

'Always on' isn't commitment. It's the fastest path to burnout. I learned this the hard way. Running on empty isn't sustainable—and it’s not success. Here are 7 principles I’ve learned to protect my peace, set boundaries, and thrive: ❌ Old Principle: Keep emotions out of work. ✅ New Principle: Lead with emotional intelligence. ↳ Use empathy to strengthen relationships. ↳ Handle conflicts with clarity and compassion. ❌ Old Principle: Prioritize work over rest. ✅ New Principle: Schedule rest to fuel your work. ↳ Schedule breaks like meetings—they’re non-negotiable. ↳ Disconnect fully during downtime to recharge. ❌ Old Principle: Solve everything yourself. ✅ New Principle: Delegate and empower others. ↳ Ask, “Who can handle this 80% as well as I can?” ↳ Focus on what only you can do. ❌ Old Principle: Multi-task to get more done. ✅ New Principle: Focus to get it done right. ↳ Group similar tasks to maximize efficiency. ↳ Shut off distractions during key work blocks. ❌ Old Principle: Say yes to everything. ✅ New Principle: Guard your time fiercely. ↳ Set clear boundaries upfront. ↳ “Let me check and get back to you.” ❌ Old Principle: Follow a rigid schedule. ✅ New Principle: Flexibility fuels creativity. ↳ Leave room for spontaneity. ↳ Be open to opportunities when inspiration strikes. ❌ Old Principle: Busy equals important. ✅ New Principle: Purposeful beats busy. ↳ Review weekly tasks—what can you eliminate? ↳ Spend more time on high-impact activities. The real secret? It’s not just about working smarter. It’s about setting boundaries that protect your peace and balance. Which of these new principles will you apply first? Let me know in the comments ⬇️ ♻️ Repost to help your network reclaim their time, energy, and boundaries! ➕ Follow Marco Franzoni for more insights on thriving at work and in life.

The Silent Productivity Killer No One Wants to Talk About As we mark Stress Awareness Month, I'm calling out the elephant in the professional room: the toxic dance between #stress and #anxiety that's destroying our potential. Here are three radical ways to reclaim your mental space: ✅ 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿. Constant availability isn't hustle. It's self-destruction. When you protect your time and energy, you're not being difficult - you're managing your anxiety and preserving your mental health. 👉 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Create dedicated focus blocks in your calendar where meetings are off-limits. This is your time for deep, meaningful work that actually moves the needle and provides relief from mounting professional anxieties. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵. Your value isn't measured by how quickly you respond or how many meetings you attend. Anxiety thrives in constant comparison and perpetual performance mode. 👉 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Carve out regular reflection time to review your genuine progress. Disconnect from the noise, challenge your anxious thoughts, and reconnect with your actual goals and achievements. ✅ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿. High performance isn't about endurance. It's about sustainable energy and protecting your most valuable resource - your mental clarity and emotional well-being. 👉 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal time. Create a shutdown ritual that signals the end of your workday, helps quiet anxious thoughts, and allows you to disconnect and recharge truly. -- Burnout does NOT make you stronger. Anxiety does NOT define your worth. They drain your potential. Productivity isn't about doing more. It's about doing what matters while protecting your mental health. Coaching can help; let's chat. | Follow Joshua Miller #StressAwarenessMonth #MentalHealth #ProfessionalGrowth

As high-achievers, we often push ourselves relentlessly. However, burnout is real and can sabotage our productivity and well-being. That's why I've made it non-negotiable to take time for myself each day to recharge. For me, this means closing the laptop, putting my phone away, and doing something solely for myself—whether it's working out in my garage gym, taking a walk, or learning a new skill. This personal time allows me to reset and return to work feeling refreshed and focused. Setting communication boundaries is also crucial. You don't have to respond to emails, DMs, or texts the second someone else decides to send them. While it may feel uncomfortable at first, establishing these guardrails is vital for sustainable success. I encourage you to examine your own boundaries: • Where can you start saying "no" to work demands during personal time? • How can you be more intentional about unplugging? Don't let the grind consume you! Prioritize your mental health, and you'll be amazed at how it boosts your overall performance. How do you recharge and reset? ------------------------ Hi, I'm Michelle. I'm a former fighter pilot turned speaker, author, and coach. If you found this helpful, consider reposting ♻️ and follow me for more content like this.

A Chief of Staff’s strength isn’t always being available.     It’s trusting themselves enough to step back.      As a Chief of Staff, your team and your leader relies on you… a lot.      You’re their go-to. Their problem solver. Their safety net.     The one who keeps things running even when they’re in back-to-back meetings, on the road, or deep in strategy mode.     But here’s the thing: you can’t be any of those things if you’re burnt out.     Boundaries aren’t about stepping away from your responsibilities. They’re about ensuring you can lead effectively when it matters most.     So, how do you set boundaries while keeping trust intact?     Start here:     🟡 Set Clear Expectations     ↳ Define your availability and stick to it. Communicate your “office hours” and when you’re off the clock.    ↳ Align with your exec on what truly needs your attention versus what can be delegated.     🟡 Define ‘Urgent’ Together     ↳ Not everything needs an immediate response. Decide what’s urgent and what can wait.    ↳ Protect focus by distinguishing between urgent and routine tasks.     🟡 Use Technology Wisely     ↳ Automate where possible. Set clear OOO messages and delegate tasks.    ↳ Turn off unnecessary notifications so you’re not distracted by things that can wait.     🟡 Lead by Example     ↳ Respect your boundaries, and others will too. Model sustainable leadership and make time for rest.    ↳ When you prioritize well-being, your team will follow suit.     🟡 Create a Handoff System     ↳ Build a capable team that can manage in your absence. Define clear roles and responsibilities.    ↳ Set processes that empower others to take over without confusion.     🟡 Retrain Yourself to Disconnect     ↳ Trust your team to handle things while you’re offline. The work will still be there when you return.    ↳ Rest is part of leadership. Recharge to be more focused and effective.     🟡 Reassess Regularly     ↳ Periodically check in with your team to see if boundaries are working or need adjusting.    ↳ Get feedback and stay open to adapting as your role or team evolves.     The best Chiefs of Staff don’t just manage chaos—they manage their energy.     Because when you set boundaries, you show up sharper. More focused. More effective.     So, say it with me:     “I won’t be checking email, so if you need anything, please give me a call.”     And then? Actually, disconnect.    In the comments: How do you set boundaries in a high-demand role?     ♻ Share to help spread awareness of the Chief of Staff role.       👋 Follow Maggie Olson for daily CoS & leadership insights.