Breaks: They Aren’t Just Nice They Are Needed
Take some time out from work or study to improve your life
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Right now many of us are juggling with work, personal life, and the very uncertain times we are living in. We get so caught up in doing, doing, and doing, that we might find it, not only hard but unnecessary to take a break. However, truth is, unless we learn how to pause, relax our mind, maybe even move our body, we won’t be moving forwards for too long.
Taking a little pause to check your social media account, grab a snack or make a quick call to your best friend, is nice, but is not really the kind of breaks we mean. You need to fully disconnect your body and mind for a while to properly hit that ‘reset’ button that will help you improve your productivity, have better mental space, and get that energy boost that you need to keep moving forwards.
Spending some time of your day or week to really enjoy a replenishing break is not procrastinating, or shrinking away from your responsibilities, on the contrary, it is the responsible thing to do: taking care of yourself first, so you can then take care of your job, family, house, etc.
Chronic stress can be developed from long-term stressful jobs or toxic relationships, and it is not something to joke about. It can lead to health problems that go from headaches and gastrointestinal issues to high blood pressure and inflammation that can end up in heart attacks and strokes. For many, it would be a problem of the past if only they took the proper breaks they needed.
Taking a Break
Knowing how important breaks are is the first step into actually taking them. Schedule breaks if you need to in your agenda and allow yourself to fully enjoy them. During the day you can take multiple 10-, 20- or even 30-min breaks in which you completely switch the headspace. Going for a walk, calling a friend, making some food, or even just a quick yoga session or workout, is enough to give you a sense of relief. Spending time in nature or moving your body is always a good way to take a break.
However, sometimes, longer breaks are needed for the sake of our mental and physical health. Taking a few days to go on a small vacation, or keeping it simple by making it a staycation are also great ways to reconnect with yourself and come back stronger.
However long you make them, and what you do in them, just remember that they are your best bet to keep yourself relaxed, happy, and looking forward to your other commitments.
