Self Care

​You’re “riding high in April, and shot down in May” … ah, the wonderful world of sales. The structure of sales environments that couple risk and reward encourage commitment to a craft that can wear you down. Thus, we are often faced with a quandary. If I use my vacation hours, what happens to my pipeline? If I take that 2-week cruise, that’s 2-weeks of commissions out the window! Or, I’m on a roll and I’m not willing to take a break while I have the Midas touch.
The upside to risk and reward compensation structures can be huge! The downside…burnout, a condition not easily recovered from. 
Most of us don’t live in a world where pension plans and gold watches are the norm. It is much more, “what have you done for me lately?” So why is this important?  If you burnout, you are of no use to your company and their tolerance for lack of production and effectiveness will be minimal.
Taking care of your self and planning for down time is critical.
Below are a few recommendations:

• Determine the most critical part of the sales season and schedule to take some time off a few weeks after that.
• Schedule routine self-maintenance such as a monthly or quarterly massage appointment to relax and renew.
• Set a timer and turn off your work email and/or your phone by 7:30.
• Schedule an annual or semiannual vacation
• Take a class such as yoga, kickboxing, or strength conditioning

Whatever form of respite you prefer - be it a monthly card game, church retreat, or a week-long vacation to Napa, schedule time to take care of yourself. I emphasize the word schedule, as often our attempts at self-care arrive too late. It takes longer to completely recharge a battery than to boost it and renew its life. When energy is depleted it affects all around you. Your boss, your clients, your family and friends will notice, and the consequences can be dire. You must be your best advocate.
Let’s create a self-care and maintenance list in the comments below. How do you recharge your battery?