Taking the time to rest and rejuvenate is important for everyone. It’s especially important for leaders. Often times leaders in the workplace take on so much that forgetting to clock out and take a breather results in a ragged and burned out individual. Tune in as a few of our team leaders share just how important unwinding is for them, and how they achieve it every week.

Maurilio Amorim, Founder/CEO

How do you unwind?
I pick up heavy things and put them down. Working out hard keeps me focused on not dropping heavy weights on my head instead of the problems of the day. I cook great food. Creating interesting and delicious food is one of my creative outlets and provides a great sense of accomplishment. Besides I get to eat well. I also spend time outdoors. I have found a new interest in horses and cows; I never realized how cool cows can be. Just be aware of the bull. 

Why is it important to unwind?
Leadership is as much about a resolute spirit as it is about looking at your challenges and opportunities creatively. You cannot be creative without refreshing your mind. Creativity happens best when your mind is rested and you able to look at a situation from multiple angles. A mind that is fatigued cannot do that.

Diana Marsh, Chief Operating Officer

How do you unwind?
Three ways: Dinner and games with a good group of friends. Great conversation and lots of laughter is a cure for anything. You need people in your life that allow you to be you – the good and the bad – and love you anyway. My kids – yes they can cause stress as well as help you unwind. I love getting to see them discover who they are and what they are passionate about – dirt bikes and books – two totally different people. Reading – non-fiction – books and movies – these are great escapes.

Why is it important to unwind?
Every person has to find a way to unwind from their day/week. I think most folks are not fully aware of the stress that work places on their shoulders and not taking the time to decompress just allows that to build from day to day. As a leader your team takes their attitude queue (knowingly or not) from your mood. If you, as the leader, walk into the team meeting stressed out, the rest of the meeting and the team will reflect that mood back to you versus the response you would have walking in refreshed.

I have also found by taking a few hours in the evening or a few days over a long weekend to truly step away, it makes my time more productive when I do tackle challenges for my company and for my clients.

Pete Wilson, President

How do you unwind?
Nothing refuels me like the outdoors. There’s something about just getting out and enjoying God’s creation that allows me to slow down and breathe deep.

Why is it important to unwind?  
I think leaders have to be intentional about taking care of themselves. Too often we wait and hope for things to slow down instead of taking charge and deliberately setting time aside to pause or slow down. A knife will lose its edge if you don’t sharpen it regularly. The same is true of people. If you never pause to refresh, you’ll lose your edge.  

Robert Wright, Director of Technology

How do you unwind? 
In the fall, I love to sit out on my patio, enjoy a cold drink with my wife Jamie, feel the wind on my face and take pleasure in the beauty of the colorful leaves falling on the backdrop of a bright blue TN sky. I also enjoy throwing a baseball with my son or kicking a soccer ball with my daughter. Laughter shared with the people that I love most is a great moment cherished and certainly helps me to unwind. This time of year, I also love to listen to post-season baseball… which is an old habit I picked up from my dad.

Why is it important to unwind?
Participating in activities that help me to unwind from a stressful day or lead me to much needed rest are critical for “resetting" and maintaining a balanced, healthy perspective. With our always connected, always engaged culture, it is often tempting to choose busy work over rest. But I find that when I make a deliberate point to unwind and rest, it is then that I can approach problems with a level head and with my best effort. I believe healthy reflection on the events of the day lead to fresh ideas in the morning.

Chris Ward, Creative Director

How do you unwind?
I love to read and get drawn into story! I am very interested in history and history-based movies. I escape with my kids and love to see them grow and learn. We play games together and laugh together. Laughter is very important to me. I believe laughter has the power to sustain my attitude and motivations! I think everyone has a different idea about what it means to have a full life. But unwinding, for me, is just purposefully making sure that I am taking advantage of everything life has to offer me right now. As well as, trying to help my family do the same.

Why is it important to unwind? 
Staying fresh, creatively, is one of my greatest joys! And, making sure that I take time to unwind is critical to our creative process. In my line of work, I often have to show multiple ways to look at solving the same problem. Sometimes it is necessary to step back from a project. I take a moment to focus on something of personal interest, and when I come back to the project, I have a fresh mind, and it is much more natural to have a different and fresh perspective. Sometimes that moment is just a few minutes, and sometimes it is all night. Either way, the best solutions usually hide inside the clearest mind. And, unwinding is a sure-fire way to get there.

So how are you unwinding this weekend? We hope that you take some time to step back and rest so that YOU can return to your team refreshed and inspired. And if you have any other questions about unwinding (or anything else) for our leadership team, submit them today through #AskAgroup!

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