At the end of my last role, I was physically and mentally exhausted.  My sleep was erratic and short.  I had to write everything down because my mind couldn’t hold information.  My resting heart rate (which normally hovers at 60 bpm) was now at 67 bpm demonstrating the elevated stress I was experiencing. Given my intense travel schedule, I was eating out often for either lunch or dinner (normally both) and my exercise routine was consistent but largely limited to the weekends or a calisthenics hotel workout when on the road.  I had extended myself through my personal and professional commitments, which led me to work seven (7) days a week.  Simply put, I had too much on my plate. While the timing of my release was unexpected, in hindsight, it was very timely.

During my professional career, I have made several employment changes. When I look at how I used my time during these changes, I realize that I used the time poorly or, even worse, took no time between jobs (e.g., left Job A on Friday and started Job B on Monday).   Because of this, I have routinely stepped into new roles while still physically and mentally exhausted from the prior role. This time will be different.

When I talk to others in my circle and they tell me stories about how they used their time between roles, I feel we are not much different in our purposeful decision-making. Most used their time to check things off their ‘to-do’/ ‘honey-do’ lists while others took a vacation or spent time with friends. Still, instead of establishing habits that carried over when they started their new opportunity, this time was treated like an intermission of a Broadway play—a brief reprieve before the next act.

I am always working on something, so I am not claiming to have any answers on how to approach the time that we have between jobs. Writing about what one should do to relax would be highly hypocritical and not based on my own experience. So instead of telling you what you should (or should not) do between jobs, I have decided to journal how I am using my current job transition in hopes that you will find some value in it and consider these tips when you are transitioning roles. Personally, my goal is to start my next role both mentally and physically refreshed. I want to establish habits that I can continue while I am working which I hope will serve to keep me balanced, refreshed and centered. Further, I am excited about sharing my story and journey with you – my friend, colleague, and fellow career journeyer.

WEEK 1: SELF-CARE

My primary goals this week were to (1) decompress, and (2) develop habits that I could continue once I started my next opportunity. Recognizing that it is much harder to scale back on expectations once I start a role, I know it is important to establish boundaries at the onset.

Decompression is number one on my list to start the week. Despite my fatigue, my body clock still woke me up at 5:30 am every day this week.  However, I was able to nap at different points in the afternoon. What you do to decompress may look different than it does to me, but the key is to focus on the activities that fill your cup and limit the activities that take away from it. These three (3) primary self-care activities filled my cup and helped me relax.

1. Recommit to my workout regimen: Working out can take the form of a brisk walk, playing a sport, or weightlifting. Once I get started, my mind forgets all the outside noise and distractions. It alleviates stress, provides a sense of accomplishment, and increases my energy. During this week, I have done a combination of cycling, walking and weightlifting for a minimum of 30 minutes a day. I found that early morning is the best for me since it gives me energy the remainder of the day. I also believe that I can commit 30 minutes to this once I begin working.
2. Eat healthy and make my own food: Trying to eat healthy while on the road is tough.  I always seem to give in to my vices-steak, burgers, and fried food. When home, I constantly used Uber Eats, Door Dash, and Caviar where I could find a larger collection of foods at my fingertips. However, cooking and baking have long been a form of decompression for me.  There is something about shutting everything out and putting together a meal or dessert that is relaxing. This week, I made lunch and dinner every day.  However, I may need to make one or two meals that I can eat during the week to establish/sustain this habit when working.
3. Therapeutic services (e.g., Massage, Dr. Appointments): Unfortunately, I allowed my work schedule to delay several doctor’s appointments. Today, we receive constant reminders of how preventative care can catch certain ailments before they become a huge problem. Yet, it is very easy to put these things off for another day. So this week, I put all of my preventative care appointments in the calendar. It is a ‘to-do’ list item but one that ensures that I am in the best health possible.  Lastly, I also took time to get a massage, Mani/Pedi, hot shave, and other relaxing things that pick up my mood.

Stay Tuned for Week 2 and Week 3 coming soon…