Take a Break
Rest is an often overlooked portion of our overall health and wellness. Intentional rest built into our day can increase creativity and productivity, and hopefully prevent any major breakdowns in mental and physical health. It takes planning and courage to implement breaks, especially during times of high stress and in a culture that rewards grinding. Unfortunately our country is in a pretty poor state of health due to chronic stress related health conditions and could take note of other countries' healthy rest habits.
The siesta (afternoon rest) is a well-known habit in Spain. In Great Britain an afternoon tea is built into the day as a time to connect and rejuvenate, and in Italy the custom riposo (rest), has workers enjoying an extended lunch at home.
Some easy ways to up your rest game:
As soon as you start to feel stuck in your work, take a walk outside (if weather permits). Walking and being in nature can stimulate creativity.
Schedule time to meet with friends, even during times of stress. Social connection is a powerful tool to combat stress.
Take a coffee or tea break with a friend or coworker, but don’t talk about work.
Instead of reaching for a mid-day cup of coffee, consider a short nap instead. Simply closing your eyes for 15-20 minutes can allow recovery and improve performance through the rest of the day.
In the words of Lin-Manuel Miranda,
“If you take your time, you will make your mark
Look around, look around, at how lucky we are to be alive right now
Close your eyes and dream
We can go
When the night gets dark
Take a break”
