TOO BUSY TO TAKE A BREAK?
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO TAKE ‘TIME OUT'
by Jennifer Summers
How many times have you continued working, knowing that you are not giving
100% to the task at hand?
How many times have you read or written the same sentence over and over
again, as your mind keeps wandering and thinking about other things?
How often have you wanted to take a break from the family or kids but feared
the consequences of doing so?
Why do we not allow ourselves the time to take "time out"?
There are many genuine reasons for needing to complete jobs and tasks, how-
ever we may also on occasion have ‘hidden agendas’ as to why we cannot stop
for a break. Some of these reasons might be:
- Ego - Some people simply enjoy boasting about, ‘how late they had to work
in order to complete a project’ or ‘how much effort they invested in order to
complete the job so quickly’ - this type of person is often looking to impress.
others with their efforts, thereby increasing their ego in the process.
- Time - "I can’t stop, I just have to get this finished". Does this sound familiar?
"I can’t stop because the job has to be finished, WHY? So I can move straight
on to the next thing, and the next, and the next etc…" this person will find that
there is always something that has to be done, which will constantly prevent
him/her from taking a break.
- The need to be needed! - A mother managing the household, kids and other
chores may feel as if her household will collapse if she were to put her feet up
or take a weekend off! By not taking a break she can keep convincing herself
that her role is crucial and the family would collapse without her input. This
may indeed be true, but is still not a good enough reason to prevent her having
a rest!
What are the benefits of taking a break?
Allowing your mind and/or body to rest can help re-focus your attention, sharpen
your wits and increase motivation. In addition, taking time out helps to relieve
stress, can aid the recovery of tired muscles and also promotes the discovery
that there is more to life than just work.
I once asked an athlete what the most important element of his training routine
was and he answered, ‘rest’. He told me that his muscles needed ‘time’ to
repair after an intensive workout session, so he was very strict in allowing
himself enough recuperation time between training sessions. Giving himself
this time off allowed him to go on and become one of the most popular men in
his sport.
I also know from my own work and writing, that sometimes my mind feels blank
but after some time out, I can return to the subject matter with fresh eyes and
a clear mind and it all seems much easier.
How long should a break be and what should you do?
A break can be anything from a 10-minute meditation session to a year’s trip around the world, and anything in-between. I define a break as, ‘something that takes your mind off a preoccupation’. So depending on the time you wish to avail towards relaxing you may enjoy reading, watching a movie, cooking, playing with the kids, riding a motorbike or driving, exercising or doing sports, travelling or simply sleeping!
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