Your Board would not have hired you if they didn’t know that you would be dedicated to the success of your Improvement District. So TAKE IT!

Take what?

• Take the break from your day full of meetings.
• Take your lunch instead of skipping it this time.
• Take the day off to go to that doctors appointment.
• Take your kid to that musical or play
• Take the vacation that you’ve been putting off because of deadlines.
• Take it. Trust me, the work will still be there when you come back.

“I don’t have the time.”

I have talked to quite a few Executive Directors or staffers from many districts.  Many have expressed frustration with their schedule and the mountain of tasks that “need” to be accomplished in their day.  When I’ve asked when was the last time you have taken a day off, the response was  a half hearted laugh and “I don’t have time to take off.”  Interestingly enough, the Executive Directors that I spoke with, who were not frazzled by their days,  were either looking forward to their upcoming vacation or had just come back from one.  There is something to be said about that.

While the job you have taken on can be extremely rewarding,  it can also be extremely taxing on you.

I’m not here to give you license to do nothing and forsake the responsibilities of your job.  Yes,  you have deadlines that have to be met, meetings that have to be held,  and contracts that need to be reviewed. I get it.  What you need to see is that if you don’t take time to break away from the job, things can start to become not so exciting anymore.  Your anticipation of meeting new people, making new contacts, cleaning up the area, improving the spaces, will soon become just part of your “daily grind”.  These things will just be ordinary events that we go through, instead of what they are meant to be – opportunities to make a difference. 

Remember, whatever the motivation was that made you take this job, you are in it.  Make it be the best that it can be by ensuring that you are taking care of you, so that you are capable of taking care of your district.

I hope this helps,

Emily