When is it time to rest?

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By Andréa Migliori, CEO of Workhub | Image: Freepik.com

Being able to disconnect from work is difficult for many people. For leaders and CEOs, it is even expected that it will be impossible. The constant demands, the cell phone always in hand, the endless emails — anyone who lives this reality knows this.

But the truth is that it's not impossible to take a break from time to time. In fact, it's extremely necessary. However, you need to make an effort to ensure that the rest actually happens and isn't buried under a pile of tasks. And that includes choosing when to stop.

Recently, a photo went viral on social media showing a rcs database working during his own wedding party. Thousands of people commented on how absurd it was, while many others said they understood that sometimes work needs to take priority, even in times like these.

I don’t believe the answer is as simple as “right versus wrong.” There is always a context behind it and a series of variables. Still, this type of story reflects the culture of the professional, the company and the market as a whole.

If the status quo you live in reinforces that work should come before everything and everyone else, you may find yourself in these situations frequently. If, on the other hand, you choose to challenge this concept, you may face debate and conflict, but you will be advocating for a change that applies to millions of people.

As a CEO, I know that there are times when you can't wait. Emergencies happen and they don't have a time or place to appear. But they should be the exception and not the rule , regardless of the model that the market seems to follow.

This is another one of those “truths” that turn out to be much more complex in real life. Who has never heard the maxim “the customer is always right” and disagreed, remembering a specific case or two? Everything has nuances and the search, in the end, should always be for balance.

Personal life is not something that is far removed from professional life, in practice. Both happen at the same time and influence each other simultaneously. No one stops being an employee, leader or CEO when they get married — but you can't stop being a husband or wife either, right? Why would keeping one in good condition be more important than the other? Who sets these priorities?

The answer is individual. Everyone knows what they want in life. Of course, we always hope that we don't have to choose, but every now and then a decision needs to be made, and only you can say which one is the best.

What we can't do is let other people's expectations define this for us. Be it your boss, your client, or even strangers on the internet. Every choice has consequences, after all, and we always need to determine which are the best or least worst. Eventually, everyone needs to rest. The one who decides the date and time, however, is you.