As we continued our exploration into what drove sustainable success and long-term impact, however, we saw repeated instances of frustration, overwhelm and even illness where we might otherwise have determined that leaders were as fit as they needed to be. 

We added vitality to our model of leadership fitness to ensure that fit leaders had what it takes to "go the distance".  Without vitality, it is more difficult to achieve clarity.  Without vitality, it is less likely that leaders will remain confident.  And, without vitality, the energy it takes to lead and manage effectively becomes depleted. 

One of the best ways to inject more vitality into the lives of leaders is to create more oscillation.  Oscillation refers essentially to the repetitive variation between two or more states, such as work and play.  Leaders often think of this as the ongoing challenge of balancing or blending the various demands on their time. 

In The Power of Full Engagement, Loehr and Schwartz utilize the principle of oscillation when they exhort leaders to balance periods of energy expenditure with regular periods of rest and recovery.  Dan Sullivan, creator of The Strategic Coach, and Jennifer White, author of Work Less, Make More, go further by pointing to the value of carving out specific days each week that are devoted exclusively to rejuvenation.  Both Sullivan and White refer to these periods as "Free Days".

Free Days are exactly what they sound like.  On these days, we do no work, and this includes no email and no voicemail.  We spend 24 hours focused only on recreation and relaxation.  Free days - vital to our life -- are for hobbies, family, exercise and reflection.  

One of the vexing challenges faced by leaders as they seek to lead a more oscillating life is identifying what to do on a free day.  When leaders have created a routine of working "all the time", it can be difficult to see how days can be spent any other way. 

The first step in creating a more oscillating life is being clear about how we want to spend our free days.  Here are some examples of how fit leaders choose to spend their free days: go jogging, get a massage, read a book, go to the movies, travel, listen to music, write letters, spend time with family and friends, etc.  What activities would be fun and rejuvenating for you that have no association with your work-related responsibilities?

Once leaders have identified how to spend their free days, an ongoing challenge is keeping our commitment to taking these days on a consistent basis.  Here are a few ways to increase the likelihood that leaders will oscillate more.

Calendarize Free Days: Plan ahead by designating specific days on your calendar for rejuvenation, and mark these days as full-day appointments with yourself.

Pave the Way: Take the necessary steps to clear the path for your Free Days by completing or deferring other work that could get in the way of you getting away.

Let Others Know: Be sure your family, your coworkers and others around you understand your new commitment to your Free Days and ask them for their support.