On Learning How To Rest From Problem Solving

I need to take breaks. In a world that glorifies constant productivity, I know this statement makes tires & records screech.

What I mean is: I need to make sure I take regular, deliberate breaks from constantly solving problems. Our minds require recovery, just the same as our bodies.

Problem solving is what we're called on to do every waking day of our lives. It is easy to get addicted to this process too, especially with our professional landscapes increasingly valuing our thinking functions more than our executive ones.

Here's a snapshot of what the article goes in-depth about:

As human beings, we're naturally inclined to solve problems. That's why we love it so much - our brain has evolved to reward us for it. Even when we consciously decide to step away - say, on a day off - our brains resist. Feelings of uselessness or worthlessness start to creep in, guilt, even. And then, we decide to check our e-mails or Slack - just a peek isn't going to hurt, right? ??

The more complex the problems we solve, the higher we climb in career paths, and the better our salaries, too. This reinforced the idea and puts a measure to our worth, directly relating it us exercising this prized skill. It's a reward cycle that's hard to beat - and wouldn't I know, I design them for a living. ??

The gist is... our brain is the perfect tool for it. But, we start to sink into a dangerous cycle when we tie our sense of self-worth to this skill. If we teach our brains its problem-solving skill is what matters most, our well-being will naturally matter less.

What this leads to, as we've seen time and again in high-performers and achievers, is a most definite and terrifying burnout.

We can't solve for everything, all the time, and disregard the costs. The tax to pay is our energy and cognitive load. The less energy we have, the less we can solve for, going deeper into a cycle of self-doubt and negative spirals.

The more taxed our cognition, the less we absorb new information, which could help us solve for problems in easier, more efficient ways.

Long story short is...

We are better problem solvers when we rest from solving problems.

I realized this when I noticed how the impostor syndrome in me got louder when resting. A day off felt like a punishment. I'd put a strain on my relationships, trying to provide solutions when none were asked for. I'd get bored easily, constantly seeking for depth in conversation, disregarding how much a "How was your weekend?" truly means to someone who wants to share that story.

My best-trained asset became a detriment to my mental health, simply because I didn't learn when, or how, to rest it. I've since learned to identify this tick and instead of feeling like less, I now recognize the need for more rest & recovery.

So, take breaks. Use your vacation time. Do nothing for some uninterrupted time. Make use of your weekends. Train your brain to understand it is absolutely worthwhile to invest in your well-being. ?

YOU are an absolutely WORTHWHILE investment.