You may recall that I always set a personal goal at the beginning of the year. A few years ago, my goal was to get away for at least a weekend each month. I often tied the trip to a conference, which worked out well. I still worked, never missing a beat with our clients, consultants, and staff. I returned refreshed, but still felt I had accomplished something. I continued this practice the following year without intentionally setting the goal. It had started to become a habit. I worked during these breaks, even on weekends. I am still a workaholic, but the change of scenery was the break I needed to recharge.
By the third year these planned and sometimes unplanned getaways stopped – my circumstances changed – putting a stop to the practice and my breaks. Boy was I cranky that year! After reflecting on these breaks, I realized I needed the time away and a change of environment to help me think differently and gain a fresh perspective. Without the break, I was not pleasant to be around and my ideas didn’t come as quickly as they did before. Turns out, that break was more important to me than I realized.
A weekend away, albeit one where I’m still working, recharges me. If you missed seeing my FFfT last week it wasn’t a problem with your Wifi (?). I took an intentional break from the blog and a few other things to refresh. Although experts say a 10 -minute break every hour is optimal, I think each person has to define their own optimal. I take a break when I need it — I walk away, do something different, and come back with a different perspective. Last week, I took a break from the blog for a variety of reasons. I was sick, so I felt tired and stressed because I could not accomplish what I needed to. This in turn, made me feel worse. See the downward spiral?!
So, I took a break. Once I felt better, I went away for a few days to recharge. Now I am back, better than ever, and feeling refreshed with new ideas. I even formed new friendships during my break and overall, I am better for it.
So, a break – whatever that may mean for you – can increase your productivity and improve your outlook. I highly recommend it!
“Taking time to do nothing often brings everything into perspective.” – Unknown
What do you do on your break?
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