Deloading and why you definitely should!

Deloading is sports term describing a back-off week. It is a planned reduction in exercise volume or intensity. In strengt training circles it is referred to as the unloading week, and is often inserted between phases or period of heavy training. Quoting from Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning: “The purpose of this unloading week is to prepare the body for the increased demand of the next phase or period,” and to mitigate the risk of overtraining.

So, how does this relate to productivity and quality of life?

Deloading for business consists of strategically holding back and taking a break from your work. This consists of alternating periods of hard work with extended periods of unplugging and taking keeping away from work. By batching your work together and afterwards unplugging completely you free op time and energy to be restorative.

The unplug can still be productive, but it shouldn’t have to be focused on “work.”

This periode can come with some silence and even though this may come of as threatening; “I want to do something productive!” It can be a moment to get some well desired reflection on a certain task or aspect of your life you have been working on lately. It is the big ideas that come from these periods. Like the silence in between notes that make the music. 

This Deloading moments or ‘blocks’ must be scheduled to fit into your daily routine. These moments can be used to journal, write or do something else that is creative. Try to keep away from electronic appliances that you use also use for work i.e. use a laptop for work? Write or journal on a piece of paper. You might find it relaxing to map out your prospects with pen and paper instead of typing it in an Excel sheet. 

To get these Deloading blocks to work effectively it must become part of your routine and the schedule must be hel als much as possible. 

So, how do you take a step back and throttle down on reactive living while everyone has their hawk-eyes on you agenda except their own?

By creating slack, as no one is going to hand it out to you.