When work (or life) gets busy, what’s the first thing you tend to sacrifice?
- Sleep
- Exercise
- Personal interests
- Time with family and friends
When you’re under pressure, sleep is often the first thing to go and the last thing you prioritise. The irony is, it’s the very thing that makes you focused, productive, and feeling human.
This week is all about what many people, especially high-achievers and busy professionals, often push aside until burnout forces a rethink - rest and personal time.
5 Ways to Protect Your Personal Time
Rest isn’t a luxury, it’s essential for productivity. Yet many people feel guilty “taking a break.”
If that
sounds familiar, here are five ways to protect your rest and personal time even when things are busy:
1. Schedule personal time like a meeting. Treat it as non-negotiable - whether it’s a hobby, exercise, or simply relaxing.
2. Stop waiting for “things to calm down.” Build time for yourself now, even in the middle of the chaos. It's when you need it most!
3. Create “no
work” zones. Pick a time or place (Sunday afternoons, weekday evenings, an area in your home) where work is off limits.
4. Group together activities that help you switch off. Mindful movement, meditation, listen to a playlist, your favourite drink, a walk in the fresh air or a good
book. Set aside 30–45 minutes to switch off and relax.
5. Redefine rest as necessary, not laziness or wasted time. When you’re busy, it’s easy to stop doing things you enjoy instead of cutting out distractions. Be honest about what drains your energy and what fills you up.
Hobbies aren’t an indulgence. Your personal time isn’t optional, it's part of a healthy, balanced rhythm to your day.
Your time, energy and personal interests matter.
The 20% Rule: Protect Your Personal Time
Burnout happens when you spend too much time on what drains you and too little on what restores you.
Try the 20% rule: Divide your day into three 8 hour blocks: sleep, work, personal time.
Spend at least 20% (1.5 hours) of your personal time on activities that give you
energy.
How to apply it:
- Review your weekly schedule.
- Identify what drains you and what energises you.
Shift at least 20% of your week towards energy-boosting activities:
- Time outdoors in nature
- Screen-free time
- Movement, creativity, reading, or music
- Supportive conversations with friends
📌 Add a weekly check-in:
What gave me energy this week?
What drained me?
Then make small
changes to protect that 20%.
What Will You Try This Week? 👉 Hit Reply and let me know.
When Did You Last Fully Unplug?
There’s “time off”… and then there’s time off that actually lets you switch off.
When was the last time you felt truly relaxed - not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too?
If you can’t remember, start small:
- Go for a walk without your
phone
- Read instead of scrolling
- Say ‘no’ to one extra work task
This isn’t about guilt. It’s about awareness, and giving yourself permission to create space for yourself. Even high achievers and leaders need time to simply be.
