Somewhere along the way,
“Always-on” became a badge of honor.
Responsive. Available. Plugged in.
But here’s the truth:
Always-on is a lie.
No one performs at their best in constant output mode.
No one creates great work in a state of constant reaction.
What looks like commitment is often just exhaustion in disguise.
You don’t need your team on 24/7.
You need them present when it matters.
And presence requires energy.
Not just time in the chair.
Not just hours on the clock.
Actual energy.
Mental clarity.
Emotional bandwidth.
You can’t recharge by pushing through.
You recharge by stepping back—briefly, regularly, intentionally.
Five minutes is enough.
To pause.
To reflect.
To reset.
Always-on breaks people.
Tuned-in builds teams.
