Burnout is one of the worst productivity killers. To avoid that dreaded state of minimal productivity and even boost your creative insights, you can try Bill Gates’s strategy: take a “Think Week”.
Picture: tshien/Flickr
The idea is to get away for a week to recoup your creative energies and rest your mind. Note, this is distinct from a holiday. A holiday may be about having experiences and fun, but a Think Week is quiet time to get things done away from everyone:
Every year, Bill Gates goes into seclusion for a “Think Week,” or private retreat, from which employees, friends, and even family are strictly banned. Many of Microsoft’s most important innovations grew out of ideas hatched during these carefully scheduled periods of isolation.
Twice a year, I get out of the office, breaking from my normal routine, for much needed “Think Weeks.” By actively disconnecting and looking at everything from 50,000 feet, I am able to effectively reflect, reset, and clearly rethink my goals and aspirations.
Not everyone can afford to take a week off to hide in the mountains, even if it is a holiday, of course. However, you can use the idea for any length of time: a night, a weekend, anything you can get. Just take some time to consider what you need to get done without a to-do list hanging over you.
Comments