Beyond the Grind: Prioritizing Rest for a Better Workplace

Photo by Drew Coffman on Unsplash

We're more like Winnie the Pooh than Terminator.

We're not meant to work like machines - never stopping or taking breaks. We’re meant to rest, chat with friends, take walks, daydream, and have a snack or two.

And yet, somewhere along the way, we eliminated rest from our workplaces.

People skip breaks. Eat lunch at their desks. Work into the evening.

It turns out that Winnie the Pooh and his crew had the right idea though.

Rest not only promotes good physical and mental well-being, it enhances productivity and performance.

It's good for people and businesses.

When we're well-rested, we're more alert, focused, and efficient.

Rest allows our brain to recharge and process information better which leads to more creativity and better problem-solving. It's also crucial to good decision-making. Sleep-deprived individuals are more likely to make impulsive and risky decisions (especially late at night on Amazon).

Rest allows your body to recover and repair itself, reducing the risk of illness and chronic health problems.

And rest is closely tied to mental health. Sufficient sleep and regular breaks during the workday can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.

It plays a role in preventing burnout as well. When employees are consistently overworked and deprived of rest, they are more likely to experience burnout, leading to higher rates of absenteeism and turnover.

When employers prioritize rest, it sends a message that they value employee well-being.

Many organizations are striving to find new ways to improve employee engagement and wellbeing. As it turns out, the answer is not to do something new, but to let people do nothing at all.

Less is more.

Where to Start

It's not enough to tell people to rest more. Unless a focus on rest is baked into the practices of an organization, many employees will avoid it for fear of appearing uncommitted or lazy.

Here are some ways to make rest a priority in your team and organization.

Implement policies: Develop and enforce policies that support rest, such as limiting after-hours communication or implementing "no meetings" days to allow for focused work time.

Technology guidelines: Establish guidelines on the use of technology outside of regular working hours to prevent constant connectivity and the expectation of immediate responses.

Encourage breaks: Promote regular breaks during the workday to help employees recharge. Encourage short breaks, such as taking a walk or having a chat with a co-worker. Ensure people have access to break areas away from their work that are comfortable and pleasant to be in.

Reduce meetings: Limit the time people spend in meetings. Along with implementing meeting-free days, encourage people to say no to meetings if they have other pressing priorities or don't feel they will add value. Discourage back-to-back meetings; some organizations have created policies that limit meetings to 45 minutes to allow 15 minutes of rest between meetings.

Open communication: Clearly communicate expectations regarding workload and deadlines. Make sure employees know they can communicate if they are feeling overwhelmed, and encourage open conversations about workload.

Flexible working hours: Offer flexible work hours or remote work options to allow employees to better manage their schedules and create a better work-life balance.

Encourage vacation time: Encourage employees to take their vacation days. Create a culture where taking time off is seen as normal and necessary for maintaining overall health. Ensure there are practices in place, so tasks don't pile up when people do take time off and aren't overwhelmed when they return.

Policies and guidelines will only go so far if leadership isn't willing to walk the talk and model healthy behaviour. Make sure to set an example by prioritizing your own rest and wellbeing. When people see their leader valuing work-life balance, they are more likely to feel encouraged (and safe) to do the same.