I call successful people winners — whether they’re professionals, tradespeople or self-employed. Winners prioritize rest and rejuvenation to maintain long-term productivity and well-being. They reject the constant grind mentality. Winners incorporate essential practices to recharge without sacrificing ambition. Here are the five key steps:

1. Get perspective through movement: Winners take walking meetings and strolls to clear their minds, letting solutions emerge naturally. Movement helps reduce anxiety and offers a fresh perspective on challenges.
2. Protect non-negotiables: Health is treated as essential infrastructure. Winners block time for sleep, exercise, and proper meals, delegating tasks to focus on what only they can do.
3. Work with energy cycles: Top performers align tasks with their energy levels, tackling routine work during low-energy times and reserving peak hours for creative, strategic tasks.
4. Take tiny recovery breaks: Short breaks, like 5-minute meditation or stretching, are scheduled throughout the day to prevent burnout and maintain energy levels.
5. Remove unnecessary pressure: Winners avoid constant urgency, recognizing not everything requires immediate attention. They stay calm during challenges, releasing pressure by questioning what truly demands their focus.

By integrating these practices into daily routines, you can sustain growth and creativity while protecting your well-being.

By Daria Horbal, BSc. Phm.