Vitamin R for Engineering Leaders: Recovery

Leaders face a hidden latency after tough meetings: the time it takes to recover emotionally and be fully present for the next interaction. This "Vitamin R" concept frames recovery as a system requirement, arguing that without it, emotional load accumulates and degrades mentorship, feedback, and strategic thinking.

The piece offers concrete habits to flush the mental loop: spend a minute writing down the missed point and schedule a brief reflection; use a physical reset like standing up or getting a drink to signal closure; apply the 5-5-5 rule to reframe the mistake's relevance; and practice a simple box-breathing cycle to lower physiological stress. Each tactic is positioned as a lightweight interrupt that prevents rumination from becoming a performance bottleneck.

When leaders endure prolonged high-intensity periods, the article expands the recovery toolbox: block half-days for non-decision work, enforce zero-notification windows, and take PTO to recharge. By treating recovery as a scheduled maintenance window, leaders protect longevity and avoid burnout, turning occasional missteps into data points rather than systemic failures.