Management Tip of the Day: Make the Most of Your Downtime

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   TIPS   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile MARCH 12, 2013 Make the Most of Your Downtime It's hard to carve out time to relax in a 24/7 world. But just as it's healthy to focus at work — ignoring Facebook and personal email — you must occasionally leave work behind. Here's how: Clearly schedule your time. Treat downtime like a work meeting: Schedule it. Book evenings off, one to two days a week free of work, and weeklong chunks of vacation every year on your calendar, and stick to them. Shut off your devices. Leave your laptop at the office when you can. Carry a phone for work and one for personal use — leave the work phone in your bag when you come home or in the safe at your hotel when you're on vacation. Create routines. Signal to your mind that it's time to start work, leave work, or engage with family by using rituals to transition from one kind of activity to the next. Today's Management Tip was adapted from "The Upside of Downtime" by Jackie Coleman and John Coleman. Read the full post and join the discussion » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT Global Dexterity: How to Adapt Your Behavior Across Cultures without Losing Yourself in the Process Ebook Now Available Managing and communicating with people from other cultures is an essential skill in today's global business environment. In this book, Andy Molinsky offers the tools needed to adapt your behavior to new cultural contexts while staying authentic and grounded in your own natural style. From identifying and overcoming challenges to integrating what you learn into your everyday environment, Molinsky provides a guidebook — and mentoring — to raise your confidence and your profile. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS Change Small Things, Not Your Entire Culture Build a Better Online Network Don't Make a Career Move You'll Regret How to Write Clearly Think Before Adopting the Latest Marketing Fad Encourage Employees to Want to Stay Use Questions to Build Your Case Win Over Your New Boss Master a New Skill Learn To Be Charismatic All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's 10 Must Reads Boxed Set HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations HBR Guide to Better Business Writing HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing Mobile ManageMentor Powered by the proven content of Harvard ManageMentor™ iTunes >> Android >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2013 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)