A Powerful Call to Action for Professionals to Take Intentional Breaks for Long-Term Success
In the fast-paced world of deadlines and deliverables, it’s so easy to get caught up in the cycle of ticking off tasks, answering emails, and meeting quotas. But what happens when we neglect the most important side of the equation—the side where we actually live and experience life? That’s where the fourth principle of my Strong Bucket Formula – Live Life – becomes absolutely essential.
The Strong Bucket Formula
If you have seen me speak on stage you will know that my signature formula is called the Strong Bucket Formula. Imagine your professional resilience as a bucket, and the water inside represents your energy, strengths, and capabilities. When everything is going smoothly, your bucket feels full and solid. It’s that sweet spot when the stars align, and things are going really well like when your business is growing, customer service is at an all-time high, you’re retaining talented team members and/or your CEO has recognised your insightful contributions at the latest team meeting.
During those times, you’re unstoppable! You’re filled with creativity, clarity, and energy, powering through with enthusiasm.
But let’s face it, work isn’t always smooth sailing. The pressures begin to build – economic shifts, industry changes, or maybe a tough quarter – and before you know it, tiny rusty holes start appearing in your bucket. These represent the gradual leaks in your focus, motivation, and energy.
Left unchecked, these tiny holes grow. What starts as a slight dip in energy turns into full-blown exhaustion. You feel drained. Even the smallest setbacks feel enormous, and before long, mistakes sneak in, and irritability kicks up. Sound familiar? Well, it’s because your bucket is running on empty due to all those rusty holes.
And here’s the hard truth: powering through with a leaky bucket just doesn’t work. You have to stop, take stock, and rebuild your resilience.
My Strong Bucket Formula has five principles and in this blog, I am going to share with you principle number five, which is to ‘Live Life.’
The Cost of Not ‘Living Life’
When we don’t prioritise living life, and we let those rusty holes grow, the cost is high. If we neglect those precious moments of rest, joy, and reconnection, it weakens our professional and personal resilience. Our energy dwindles and our enthusiasm wanes. This fatigue impacts everything – from our productivity to our relationships, and worst of all, it leads to burnout.
When work takes centre stage and life takes a backseat, the imbalance only gets worse. We start losing touch with our creativity, joy, and decision-making abilities. It’s not just about feeling physically tired – it’s about feeling emotionally and mentally drained.
And if we’re constantly in a place of depletion, how can we lead, create, or innovate? The simple answer is, we can’t.
Why ‘Living Life’ is Crucial for Resilience
Living life fully is not just a nice-to-have—it’s critical to keeping your resilience bucket strong. When we take moments to pause, step away, and embrace joy, we repair the rusty holes. By prioritising ourselves, we ensure that our strengths and capabilities remain intact.
Taking an extra day once a quarter allows us to reset. Whether it’s a staycation, a picnic, or an adventure like my recent desert safari in Dubai, these moments allow us to refill our buckets. This particular trip was one where I had been booked as a keynote speaker to present on the closing day at a big 4-day conference in front of thousands and thousands of the world’s best insurance and finance professionals.
I decided to take a few extra days because I had never been to Dubai and even though it would have been productive to spend all those extra days catching up with my to-do list, I chose to experience life beyond my work. It gave me a fresh perspective and the energy to approach my keynote speaking responsibilities with renewed passion. You see I was one of fifteen speakers chosen from across the globe from two hundred and eighty speakers who had been put forward. I needed to make sure I was my very best self when I stepped onto that stage and by taking this extra time to ‘Live Life’ helped me to deliver the best keynote of my career which resulted in a standing ovation. Wooohoooo.
We know that resilience isn’t built by just powering through tough times – it’s maintained by creating space to refresh and reset. When we take intentional breaks, even for a short time, it gives us the capability to handle challenges and ensures that our buckets are full when we need them the most.
How to Prioritise Living Life
Here’s the thing: we can’t wait until everything is ‘perfect’ to live life. We need to intentionally carve out moments that bring us joy and fulfillment. Here’s how:
- A Quarterly Recharge
Set aside an extra day off each quarter to recharge. This doesn’t need to be an elaborate trip halfway across the world (although that’s fun too). Even a day spent at a local café, taking a walk in nature, or diving into a good book can make a world of difference. This short break is all about giving yourself the space to reset and repair those little rusty holes in your bucket.
- Prioritise What Really Matters
When your inbox is full and your to-do list is never-ending, pause. Remind yourself that no one can pour from an empty bucket. Taking time out should be viewed as an absolute necessity – not a luxury that only the wealthy can prioritise or afford. Strengthen your bucket through moments of rest and joy – they don’t have to cost you anything.
- Embrace New Experiences
Routine is important but stepping out of it now and then is what keeps life exciting! Try a new hobby, travel to a new destination (that could even be a suburb 20 minutes away!) or learn something new. These experiences fill us with fresh perspectives and build our resilience muscle.
- Be Present
In a world filled with distractions, being present has become a superpower. Whether you’re at work or at play, give your full attention to the moment. Switch off the notifications, put down your phone, and immerse yourself in whatever is in front of you.
- Redefine Success
Success isn’t just about meeting KPIs or getting that promotion. It’s about enjoying the beautiful, unpredictable adventures that occur along the way. Redefine success as a balance of both career growth and personal fulfilment. You’ll be amazed at how much more resilient you feel when you give equal importance to both.
Final Thoughts
Living life doesn’t mean neglecting your responsibilities—it means balancing them with moments of joy, peace, and personal growth. By embracing this principle, you’re not only recharging yourself; you’re also strengthening your resilience and preparing yourself for the challenges ahead.
The next time you feel overwhelmed or notice those rusty holes forming, ask yourself: when can you take a short break to Live Life and strengthen that bucket of yours?
