Disengage So You Don’t Flail

by Kristi Willis

I am a swimmer. We discovered this when I took lessons at the age of 6 and the coach told my parents to immediately get me on a swim team. After months of practice, I was ready for my first swim meet.

I got on the blocks for my first race and got into starting position. I dove in the water and started swimming as fast as I could. Unfortunately, I was moving my arms at light speed, but I wasn’t using good stroke technique so I wasn’t moving forward at all. My arms were flying, I was splashing water everywhere - I was flailing. After about 10 meters of that, I realized I wasn’t making any progress, took a deep breath and slowed down a bit. Suddenly, I was flying through the water and I recovered enough to place 3rd.

This story came to mind recently because since the first of the year, I have felt like I was flailing at work. My schedule has been non-stop busy and I’ve felt like I’ve been going 0 to 90 and not making much progress.

Recently, I was in the office and my day was back-to-back meetings. When I got home that night, I was absolutely exhausted. As I reflected on the day, I realized that I had never taken a break. I had even eaten lunch at my desk and answered e-mails while I woofed down my sandwich. No wonder I was exhausted; I never took time to disengage.

One of the key concepts we teach in Getting the EDGE is the power of taking strategic disengagements, an idea developed by Jim Loehr in his book The Power of Full Engagement. Even when we are busy, if we will take 5-15 minute breaks every 1.5 to 2 hours, we will be more productive overall throughout the day. It gives our bodies and brains a chance to reboot so we can give 100% throughout the day, even in the afternoon.

Think about it. In all sporting events, athletes take breaks. In tennis there are breaks between sets. In basketball and football they have half time. If athletes need rest for a 2-4 hour game, then professionals definitely need times to catch our breath during our 8 to 9 to 10 hour days.

I know what you are thinking – “I don’t have time for a break.” What if taking a 5 minute disengagement means that your 3 pm meeting will yield an answer instead of just another round about discussion on the same topic? Do you have time for a break now?

I have now reworked my schedule to make sure that I am not in back-to-back meetings for more than 2 hours at a time and that I have time to disengage throughout the day. I have noticed an enormous difference. When I return from my disengagements, my head is clear, I have more energy and I’m able to really contribute to each of my commitments.

When I start to feel like I’m flailing, I immediately disengage. Nothing like a walk around the building to keep me from splashing water on the whole team.