How can communication professionals recharge during the workday?

For communications professionals, unplugging is key to be able to do their job well. Communications professionals serve as a bridge between the “inside” of an organisation or a topic, and the rest of the world. On the one hand, they need to understand their topic. On the other hand, they need to “walk in the shoes” of their audience, who may not know much. When one focuses attention on the same subject for prolonged periods of time, it becomes hard to serve as a bridge. A “curse of knowledge” kicks in. It can be remedied by small breaks during the day: step back, refocus the attention, take some deep breaths, and then return to the task. The quality of communications literally depends on us taking breaks.

Taking breaks is so crucial and it achieves so much. It's a chance to recharge your depleting energy both emotionally and physically. It restores your eyes after prolonged screentime. But it can also be professionally strategic. Get your draft together, whether it's external-facing content or an email to a colleague. Then put it away. --Go for a walk around the block. --Check in with a work friend. --Stand up and stretch. --Set a timer, turn your chair around, and close your eyes for 3 minutes. When you come back to it, you'll have a chance to catch elusive typos you missed before. Or maybe you thought of another good point to include. Or maybe you read it again and spot phrasing that could be misinterpreted.

Communication professionals are creatives and, just like any other creative, we need to unplug. I've always found a social media break goes a long way in helping me recharge. Instead, I pick up a good read (and it doesn't have to be an insightful article or biography; any read does it for me!) and allow myself to imbibe a fellow communicator's body of work. You'll be surprised how many fresh ideas sprout from that one much-needed break!

The constant pressure faced by Communication Professionals can lead to stress, fatigue, and even burnout if not managed. To maintain their creativity and productivity, communication professionals need to find ways to recharge and refresh their energy levels by practicing the following: Take breaks Unplug, Disconnect, and Relax Prioritize Physical and Mental Well-being Break Up Your Routine and Inject Creativity Set Boundaries and Manage Your Time Effectively Embrace mindfulness practices. Connect with others:

Communication professionals can avoid burnout and maintain creativity by setting boundaries, taking short breaks during the day, delegating tasks, and knowing it is okay to say No.

Incorporate mindfulness techniques into your workday. Take a moment to focus on your breath, be present in the moment, and let go of any stress or distractions. This can help you feel more calm and centered.

Setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining work-life balance and reducing stress. You can establish boundaries by politely declining irrelevant requests, delegating tasks beyond your scope, minimizing distractions, and seeking assistance when necessary. This ensures you protect your time and resources, communicate your needs clearly, and prevent overextension, ultimately contributing to your well-being and productivity.

Most of us know that setting boundaries is healthy. Practising is harder. Start asking yourself why. Do you struggle with saying no? More specifically, do you struggle with saying no to some people and not to others? When you say no, you are saying yes to someone else. I know that it is not always easy to say no. There are times when setting a boundary is challenging. I would start by looking inward, doing some introspection and learning about how you learned about priorities. Were you taught that your needs weren't as important? Did you learn to prioritise your career above else? Do you struggle with self-esteem? Once you figure out that work does not define who you are, it might become easier to set boundaries too.

Try to get a sense for what your day or week is going to look like and complement that schedule with material that will inspire you to succeed in that specific context. For example, is there a podcast you enjoy which has a topic that relates to what you’re working on? Incorporate that during your quiet time and allow the inspiration to hit naturally. Or if there’s a book that relates to what you are working on, have it nearby for a quick scan when you need a dose of inspiration or some juice to create with.

Jim Kwik's statement, "If knowledge is power, then learning is a superpower," emphasizes the importance of continuous learning. He suggests that while knowledge is valuable, the ability to learn and acquire new knowledge is even more powerful. Learning is the superpower that enables individuals to adapt, grow, and thrive in a rapidly changing world. In essence, he is highlighting that the skill of learning itself is the ultimate tool for empowerment, as it equips you to gain knowledge, solve problems, and achieve your goals throughout life. Learning something new is vital for personal and professional growth. It sparks curiosity, motivation, and skill development. Challenge yourself to explore unfamiliar topics or refine existing skills.

Physical exercise is a great way to recharge and boost energy levels. Find time in your day to do a quick workout or engage in activities like yoga, stretching, or even a short walk. Exercise not only improves physical well-being but also enhances mental clarity.

Sure, learning something new can help recharge batteries. However, it does not necessarily need to be work related. Also, I don't believe that we always need to be pushing ourselves outside our comfort zone. In my experience, I have tried to learn things I always wanted to learn but never had the time to. Like, learning how play the piano, or going to theater class or pottery. I use Duolingo to learn new languages, but I'm not constantly thinking how to use these things to push myself harder. Having a hobbie or learning something new should be about disconnecting from our workday and chores.

One thing I find helpful is puzzle solving! 1. It provides a break from the routine and allows one to shift focus to a different, engaging task. The immersive nature of puzzles can be a welcome escape from daily stressors 2. They challenge you to think critically, apply logic, and problem-solve, all of which are valuable skills that can be applied to various aspects of life 3. Puzzle-solving is a powerful means to exercise the brain. Just like physical exercise keeps the body in shape, mental exercises are vital for maintaining cognitive function. Regular puzzle-solving can enhance memory, concentration, and overall mental agility, making it an enjoyable way to keep the mind sharp.

In September I was inspired to take up a 30-day gratitude journaling project. While I was doing it entirely for me, I shared prompts religiously in my socials and groups of friends. They got to know me a little better. But what was more interesting to me, is that some friends decided to also take part in the journaling, sharing with me their challenges and success stories. It was an authentic a beautiful time for us all!

Expressing yourself is crucial for personal growth, professional growth, and effective communication. Whether writing in a journal, speaking at a meeting, or creating content, it provides a creative outlet for thoughts and emotions. It cultivates relationships, builds trust, and encourages collaboration within teams. Sharing ideas and giving feedback contributes to organizational growth and improvement, creating a productive work environment. Furthermore, expressing yourself can act as a therapeutic release, cultivating creativity and teamwork, and driving positive changes within your organization.

Take a few minutes to practice deep breathing exercises or meditation. These techniques can help reduce stress, increase focus, and provide a mental reset during the workday.

I've been journaling since I was a little kid. Unfortunately, I don't do it as consistently as I would like. However, one of the things I was committed to doing this year was to think about at least one thing I'm grateful about each day. We're often so caught up in our routines, that we forget to notice the little things. Another way to express yourself is through drawing and painting. I like to draw and paint. It soothes me and helps me relax. I like sharing thoughts on Medium, but that often feels less like a way to recharge and more like work. So, if you have a personal journal, record voice notes, or a friend you can unload. That will likely help you deal with stress and feel lighter.

Expressing yourself helps with both authenticity and confidence if you are in an empathic communicator role and actually spend most of your time holding space for others. In my experience, most succesful communicators and those in the communication industry are highly creative and expressing yourself throughout the workday helps to feed that spiritual element. Post a blog, doodle, wear your favorite color or outfit, rearrange your workspace, are all easy ways to tap in to the gifts you have that give back to your energetic being and keep your heart full for your job and interactions.

Interacting with colleagues can be a great way to recharge and gain fresh perspective. Take short breaks to chat with coworkers, share ideas, or discuss non-work-related topics. Building positive relationships with colleagues can contribute to a more enjoyable work environment.

I miss the office sometimes because of the fun moments we had. At times, we would contribute and buy lunch to eat together in the office. On our birthdays and occasionally we cooked/bought breakfast items and brought to work to enjoy each other’s company. I want these days back. But I am so happy with where I am now.

Infusing fun into your workday reduces stress and provides a variety of benefits. Shared moments of joy with colleagues cultivates a supportive and collaborative work environment, leading to higher job satisfaction and engagement. Fun can be a powerful tool for productivity, and finding fulfillment in your professional life. Incorporating fun into your workday doesn't mean neglecting your duties or becoming less professional. It's about striking the right balance between your job's demands and moments of enjoyment. injecting a bit of humor, celebration, or amusement into your work, you can maintain a positive mindset, alleviate stress, cultivate better relationships, boost productivity and find a sense of meaning and purpose in what you do.

I believe this could work for any area of work, not only Comms. But when I am in home office and having a busy day I like to have a lunch break while watching one of my favorite comfort sitcoms - Friends most of the times. Also trying to put the cell phone away during lunch helps!

Gratitude has a biological effect that naturally calms and soothes your nervous system. Adopting a core belief that “everything is exactly as it should be” and/or “everything happening right now is for my highest good” will prime you to sink into gratitude when times get tough. This will start as a conscious effort but over time, this will become your default way of thinking in the face of adversity. You will thank yourself later!

I have a gratitude jar at home and I try to write gratitude notes at least once a week. It’s a beautiful way to just be happy for things that have been and those that will be. I find it calming too. Those few minutes that I take to write the notes are the best moments of the week. It’s mood booster as well as. It helps me to live in the now !!

Practicing gratitude is a powerful way to recharge during the workday. It involves acknowledging and appreciating the positive aspects of your life, work, and relationships. This practice can be done in various ways, such as maintaining a gratitude journal, expressing thanks to colleagues, or simply reflecting on the things you're thankful for. By cultivating gratitude, you can shift your perspective, boost your mood, and enhance your overall well-being. Gratitude works because it cultivates a positive mindset, reduces stress, and promotes a sense of contentment and fulfillment. Furthermore, it helps you focus on what's going well, which can be especially valuable in a demanding work environment.

Communication professionals can recharge during the workday in one of two ways. If the communication is digital, with long periods of silence and eyes on the screen, wash your face and hands, and rinse the mouth. Then chant the name of the Almighty. Water resets the body quicker than stretching or visualization. Chanting is a controlled exercise that loosens jaw, neck and chest muscles without creating that cold shock of stretching muscles after inactivity, or for eg, speaking on the phone where you can't control what's said or heard. It also allows you to 'speak the truth' since one often can't at the workplace. If communication is verbal in a group environment, recharge with a YouTube video of village life. Search 'village life' on YT.

"practice gratitude to honor what's ordinary about our lives, because that is what's truly extraordinary." Brené Brown. After reading "The Gifts of Imperfection", one of my main takeaways was precisely that. Practising gratitude leads to a more fulfilling life because we learn to focus on how much we already have and not in what we wish we had. With this, I'm not saying you should not acknowledge when you are upset, or sad, or something terrible has happened. Leave room for sadness and grief. However, making gratitude part of your daily routine will have a massive impact on your life.

Connect with nature: If possible, spend some time outdoors during your breaks. Being in nature can have a soothing effect and help you recharge. Take a walk in a nearby park or find a peaceful spot to sit and relax.

Always practice personal well-being for professional productivity: prioritising self-care and implementing effective time management strategies. Disconnect from work-related tasks and engage in activities that promote relaxation, such as taking a walk, practicing mindfulness, and take that digital detox. Set AND COMMUNICATE your boundaries and your availability to colleagues, ensuring uninterrupted rest periods. It’s crucial to “be your best, to do your best” and short breaks throughout the day are essential to recharge and rejuvenate.

Communication professionals face daily challenges that can be draining, so recharging is a top priority. Short breaks, incorporating mindfulness, and setting boundaries are effective ways to maintain well-being. Breaks clear the mind and improve focus, while mindfulness reduces stress. Setting boundaries helps manage workloads and limits distractions. Seeking social support through brief chats with colleagues can alleviate feelings of isolation. Utilize these strategies to stay creative, resilient, and productive in a demanding field.

There are so many great contributions here. Ultimately, as professionals and leaders, our ability to inspire is intimately linked to how inspired we feel in our journey. In the hustle of meeting deadlines and crafting impactful messages, it’s pivotal to carve out moments to nourish our inner reservoirs of creativity and motivation. I like to step back and remember my "why". I believe in my work with all my heart and that reminder gets me through even the toughest moments.

From my experience, a lot of advice is easier said than done. I know for myself, that it's hard to practice having fun when I also must care for my house, run errands, look after my children, make dinner, do laundry, etc. I think all professionals struggle with recharging and self-care. As an introvert, alone time is something I crave but don't get enough of. So, priorities look different each day. Some days, going out for dinner with a friend will be the priority. On other days, managing to keep your sanity will be the winner. Balance is achievable but not easy. Try listening to your body and also ask for help. See who you can trust and who can give you a hand with the heavy stuff.