The Leadership Insider network is an online community where the most thoughtful and influential people in business contribute answers to timely questions about careers and leadership. Today’s answer to the question: How do you avoid burnout? is written by Rod Drury, CEO at Xero.
Leading a company with customers in over 180 countries, across four continents, and spanning multiple time zones can easily become a blur. And a blur that lasts too long, can quickly turn to burnout. But like fatigued driving, there are warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored. In fact, overworking yourself to the point of burnout becomes counterproductive and can land you in a vicious circle of stress. So what can you do to avoid burnout? I believe exercise is key.
See also: What to Do When You Feel Overwhelmed at Work
Exercise gives your brain the time it needs to subconsciously process problems. The mix of fresh air, nature, adrenaline, and the need to be present, brings you back down to earth. If I have a problem I’m working through, I can usually develop a solution by the end of my workout. At Xero, we encourage our employees to stay healthy through regularly hosting yoga classes in our offices and stressing the importance of taking breaks during the work day.
In fact, the health and wellness market is a rapidly growing vertical for Xero so we’ve teamed up with the wellbeing software platform, MINDBODY, to make it easier for small businesses, like yoga studios, to offer their programs to corporations. The simpler it is for employees to access these benefits, the more likely they are to participate, and ultimately, avoid burning out. Programs like this make it much harder for employees to say “I’m too busy” to go for a surf or jump on a ski lift to enjoy a bluebird, powder day. Remember: work will always be there when you get out of the water or off the slopes.
