The sound choice: to unwind

Nearly all of the executives I work with are excellent with the “ON” button. They are driven, focused, and task oriented. It’s the reason they got to where they are. Switching to the “OFF” button, however, can be a lot more challenging.

When an engine is going 75 MPH, it’s very hard to slam on the brakes.

And it’s not just CEOs who face this issue. Those of us who work at home can often have a hard time separating work life from family time. As painful as commuting to the office could be, it did offer a bridge from professional to personal.

Here’s one way a client finds solace in a deliberate way at the end of the day.

She has an evening ritual after finishing work. She pours himself a glass of wine, goes to the living room, puts on a record and headphones, and has 45 minutes or so of “vinyl time.”

Her phone stays in the other room and her family knows not to bother her unless there’s fire or blood involved.

And she's not alone.

Purchases of vinyl records have been on a tremendous upswing the past few years, with sales going up 22 percent in the first half of 2022, according to Variety.

On the surface, it doesn’t really make any sense.

Vinyl records:

• Cost more than streaming
• Require a lot of room to store
• Force you change sides
• Breaks and scratches
• May not even sound better

So, what’s the appeal?

People like my client recognize that listening to a vinyl record is a great way to create negative space - an opportunity to make time for yourself in a way that nourishes your soul.

It’s the exact opposite of listening to a playlist shuffled on Spotify.

There’s the action of choosing an album, taking it out and cleaning it, looking at the cover artwork, scanning the liner notes, and taking the time to listen to a piece of music exactly the way an artist intended.

By the time she's finished with vinyl time, she is energized and ready to go back to being a partner, mom, and entrepreneur again.

Even if you don’t have a turntable, let me suggest finding an album you love and listening to it from start to finish.

The time you spend doing this will pay dividends in your life.

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