Mental health: Recharge wisely
We often talk about "unplugging" from work in order to "recharge" and restore our energy. That is great, but...
How often do you recharge your phone by unplugging it?
Never, right? Unplugging from work (and especially email) is a great idea and is necessary, but I'd argue that it is not sufficient.
Just like charging your phone, restoring your energy likely also requires you to "plug in" to something else. This could look like being mindful of enjoying time with family or friends, appreciating nature, art, or music, or engaging in meditation or other spiritual practice.
And this works for whenever it is that you take time off - whether that is on weekends, evenings, or some other time during the week.
The key is that rather than (or in addition to) taking time to zone out, we can best restore our mental and emotional energy by intentionally and mindfully enjoying the people, places, and practices that are meaningful in our lives.
And, yes...that may even involve letting your phone battery run out of charge.