Do You Know When You Need to Take a Break?
How are you feeling today? Did you sleep well and wake up feeling energised and refreshed? Or did you struggle to wake up and crawl out of bed?
It’s an important question because there’s an enormous amount of pressure on people to work longer and longer hours and give more and more to their jobs. And that’s leaving less time to rest, recover, recuperate and re-charge the batteries. The result is a huge increase in stress levels and a reduction in mental efficiency. It’s helpful to remember that our brains don’t function brilliantly when we’re tired. In fact, more car accidents are caused by fatigue than by alcohol-or drug-fueled drivers. Think about that for a moment. You can be tested for alcohol or drug consumption but nobody wants to deal with the far more dangerous condition of fatigue at the wheel.
In my work, I encourage people to use their time efficiently rather than punishing themselves with long hours of unproductive or futile activity. Efficiency means doing the things that are necessary to achieve our goals and objectives. I’ve always admired hard work but we often confuse long hours with being productive. They’re not the same. And recognising that you’re tired and in need of a break is a sign of maturity that will dramatically improve your efficiency. That’s why you need to plan for regular breaks during the day. Take a few minutes to stand up, breathe, stretch, loosen up and give your brain a chance to profit from the extra oxygen that you’re inhaling.
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On a deeper level, you need to reserve downtime for yourself outside of work. Take a walk, move your body, meditate, put your worklife to one side and concentrate on the things that really make your life worthwhile. Take time out to be with your loved ones. Give them 100% of your attention. Give yourself permission to smile, relax, enjoy the moment and let your system fully recover from the stress and strain of work. You’ll feel so much better and your cognitive function will be significantly enhanced.