Work Hard, Self-care Harder

Sargent grew up in Detroit and was raised with the “work hard, play hard” mindset.

“We often think of play and rest as the opposite of working,” she said. “But rest is the companion of work. We need rest and recovery to produce.”

Sargent prefers her own mantra: work hard, self-care harder. She uses the analogy of elite athletes who build rest and recovery into their training and performance, but said most people do not embrace that mindset in the workplace.

Hooky Days

To start building habits of rest and recovery, Sargent recommends scheduling “hooky days.”

“Hooky days are about prioritizing your well-being and whatever you need to restore it,” she explained. “If you’re drained, you just need to lay on the couch.” 

Sargent suggested other ideas such as going to the spa, spending time outside at the park or visiting a museum. “Your hooky day is up to you,” she said. “The fun thing is, once you make it a routine, you can change it each time.”

Sargent recommends scheduling hooky days once a quarter or, better yet, once a month. “Block it off on your calendar now, before you need it,” she said, adding weekdays are best. “Taking a weekday off is the biggest declaration that you’re taking time for yourself.”

Earlier this year, Sargent published, Go L#ve Yourself, an adult storybook about the journey of burnout relief.

Learn more about Sargent and her work at hookywellness.com.