Rest & Reset: The Strategic Advantage
By Christi O. Brown, ACC
I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of rest lately. I was recently forced into a slower pace when I had to take time off for outpatient surgery recovery. At first, it was very uncomfortable. Our culture drives us into a frantic, stressful way of life, and slowing down can feel like a betrayal of our productivity. But then, I was reminded of the beauty of the pause.
Five days after surgery, in the midst of some difficult times, I ironically felt more rested than I had for quite a while. In addition, I felt ready for what was next. I realized that the "frantic" way of life isn't a requirement for productivity. In fact, it’s counterproductive. It's a habit we can and should choose to break. This deep realization is what led me to lean into what the business world terms "Strategic Recovery"—the deliberate practice of resetting energy in order to sustain pace. And it isn’t just a luxury; it is imperative to quality leadership.
This is why I jumped at the chance to take a trip with college friends to the Hudson River Valley recently. As I lay in a hammock—feet up, looking out at the beauty of the valley—I was reminded that these moments are where our best self is restored. There’s not much I love more than enjoying the dappled shade of the trees with the warm sun filtering through and the soft rustling of leaves with a slight, cool breeze. A time to truly rest and reset.
"Rest is not the absence of work; it is the preparation for it."
Finding the "Feet Up" Perspective
Sometimes strategic recovery looks like a trip to the mountains, but it can also happen in the small corners of our daily lives. Once a month for five years, I have prayer journaled virtually with my friend and former management consultant colleague. I recently, and accidentally due to an injury, discovered that I can be still and listen during this time even better if I lie on the ground and put my feet up.
This practice has been so refreshing and inspiring that I have now worked it into my daily workday routine. Combined with a prayer blanket gifted to me by another sweet friend, these ten minutes of "feet up" time have become a productive, essential part of my reset. It turns out that when we change our physical posture, we give our mind permission to change perspective also.
5 Ways to Build Strategic Recovery Into Your Week
Embrace the "Feet Up" Reset: Take 5-10 minutes a day to lie down or sit with your feet elevated. This physical shift signals to your nervous system that it is safe to move from "doing" to "being."
Schedule Your Hammock Moments: You don't need a trip to the Hudson River Valley to find your hammock. Identify one activity this week that offers "dappled shade"—something purely for enjoyment that clears your cognitive debt.
The Digital Sabbath: The frenzy is often fueled by our screens. Set a firm "end time" for your devices at least one evening a week to let your brain truly reset without the noise of notifications.
Social Refueling: Connect with a "soul friend"—someone who understands your heart and doesn't require an "executive" version of you. These connections provide the emotional recovery needed for complex leadership.
The Morning Grace Pause: Before the workday begins, spend five minutes in silence, journaling, gratitude or prayer. Setting the "internal thermostat" of your day before the world tries to set it for you is a radical act of self-leadership.
Better quality productivity is indeed a result of these practices, but most importantly, you just feel better overall. And there are no metrics that can top that incredible, intangible feeling of being rested, ready, and fully present.
In the madness of the season, remember that you are your organization’s most valuable asset. If you are depleted, your leadership will be too. I encourage you to find your hammock, put your feet up, and embrace the strategic advantage of the rest and reset.
You’ve got this. We’re cheering you on here at ALC to keep ACE-ing it in leadership and life!
