By Randall Hanifen
Contributor, EDM Digest
As I read some business management and leadership articles that discussed what successful people do during their holidays, it occurred to me that many emergency services workers do not get a traditional four-day weekend or time off during the holidays. But we all should build in necessary recharging tactics to keep us moving forward in our profession.
Unplug and Unwind
Our traditional 24/48 schedule gives us more time between shifts to disconnect from the workplace. But depending on the call volume at your department, the first day off might be spent recovering from a hectic shift.
Even if you do not need the first day to unwind, you may have a secondary job that requires being mentally and physically alert. Plan for at least a few days during which work will not be your primary focus. Allow some time to unwind and disconnect from your previous work activities. Just focus on a fun hobby or take time to do nothing.
Get Away from the Constant Stimulus of the First Responder Profession
Whether you are reading your email or looking at Facebook and Twitter, you are likely interacting with someone or something that concerns your profession, as most of our friendships are work-based. However, removing the constant stimulus of the first responder profession from your life for a few days allows your brain to recharge, your emotions to disconnect and your physical body to repair itself.
Try Physical Exercise and Meditation
Physical exercise is perhaps the best activity you can do for your health. Physical exercise is linked to decreases in health problems such as cancer, heart disease and numerous other ailments.
When you disconnect from your daily routine, start an exercise regimen or take time to engage in a physical activity outside your normal routine. For example, walk through 18 holes of golf or play racquetball. Both of these activities require more from you than the workout room at the firehouse and can have great mental and physical benefits.
Consider meditation as another way to treat stress. I attended a seminar recently in which a speaker discussed how many successful business people benefited from frequent meditation. He explained how to build meditation into your typical day.
Meditation is another activity to try out when you have a few days off. If you experience benefits from exercise and meditation, you can find ways to build them into your daily routine.
Find a Sector of Your Business that You Have Not Explored
As we all tend to settle into an area of expertise within our profession, we continue to read, research and think about that particular area. While this helps you build subject matter expertise, it can have negative effects if you fail to make connections with other sectors of your profession.
Then, you lose the ability to see the big picture and your overall daily functions might not be up to par. As any executive will tell you, the further up the corporate ladder you ascend, the more you need a global outlook.
Explore a Business Sector outside Your Current Profession
While we all feel that our business is the center of our lives, we truly know that every business sector is intertwined with all others. For example, the fire department may be the center of attention during a fire. But firefighters’ salaries are derived from the community’s mean income, the salaries in different sectors and the cost of living in the area.
Keeping your organization ahead of looming problems requires strategic planning and the ability to scan the overall environment of the community. But this is possible only if you understand other business sectors. Additionally, as you ascend through promotions, you will interact with people outside your organization as much as those within it.
Make an Annual Plan for Growth
Since we all get bogged down with our daily grind, you may often look up at the end of the year and realize that you have not progressed as rapidly as you wanted. It is important to make an annual growth plan that is in line with your overall long-term goals. By having this plan in a readily accessible place, such as your computer, you can refer to it once a month or so to see if you are working toward your long-term goals.
The rest between shifts is a good opportunity to ensure your long-term goals are still relevant. Long breaks over the holidays are a great opportunity to unplug from daily life, recharge physically and mentally, and set out your plan for the next year.
Recharging and adopting new habits gives you the best chance to ensure you are in top mental and physical shape. Recharging also helps ensure that you do not lose track of your overall career picture and how you can meet your goals. Happy rest time!
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