The Concept of Rest
Gone are the days when teachers would pull out the mats for nap time and force you to go to sleep in the middle of the day ( although they really didn't have to force me. I was a willing participant). But now as an adult (yuck), it's like everyone is anti-rest. But I have a secret to tell you that I am not afraid to share. Lean in because I’m going to whisper the secret. I miss nap time.
I never understood why adults were always so tired but now I do. Could it possibly be because our childhood 3-month summer breaks were replaced by 2 weeks of vacation? Or perhaps because nap time was replaced by caffeine breaks to push through the day. Maybe it is because lunch/ recess was replaced by warming up food in the microwave and then going back to your cube to work and eat. This isn’t everyone’s reality but it is far too many ( cough cough Americans). The same question always arises when I think about this lifestyle “Aren't you tired?”. The answer is typically yes and yet people continue to push themselves to the brink.** I do realize that taking breaks is unfortunately a privilege that some cannot do. Roughly 28 million Americans don’t get any pto or paid holidays.** So to the nearly 46% of Americans who didn't take their allotted pto time in 2022, as Nicki Minaj once famously said to Miley Cyrus “What's good?” Americans left an average of 9.5 unused PTO days in 2022!!
Call me quirky or lazy or whatever but I am very serious about taking breaks and resting. PTO? I am taking all of my days off. Calling out sick when I am actually sick? CHECK. Mental health days? You bet your bottom dollar. A hot girl walk for an afternoon pick me up? I am grabbing my tennies right now! Why? Because I know that taking breaks is essential for my overall well-being and is the main reason I haven’t checked into the grippy socks club. So allow me to convince you to take your well-deserved break because not only do you deserve it they are also beneficial.
Benefits include:
1. Increased productivity: Breaks can actually improve your overall productivity and performance. When you continuously work without breaks, your focus and concentration can diminish over time. Taking regular breaks allows you to recharge your mental energy, regain focus, and approach tasks with renewed motivation. It helps prevent burnout and enables you to maintain a higher level of productivity throughout the day.
2. Enhanced creativity: Breaks provide an opportunity for your mind to wander and explore new ideas. Stepping away from a task or problem for a while allows your brain to make new connections and come up with fresh perspectives. Many creative insights and innovative ideas occur during moments of relaxation and downtime.
3. Improved decision-making: Taking breaks can lead to better decision-making. When you're constantly engaged in a task without breaks, decision fatigue can set in. Decision fatigue refers to the deterioration in decision-making quality that occurs after making a series of choices. By taking breaks, you give your mind a chance to rest and reset, enabling you to approach decisions with greater clarity and improved judgment.
4. Physical and mental well-being: Breaks are crucial for maintaining your overall well-being. They allow you to address your physical needs, such as stretching, moving around, or hydrating. Taking breaks also helps reduce stress levels and prevent the accumulation of mental fatigue, which can negatively impact your mental health. It gives you an opportunity to engage in self-care activities, such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, or enjoying a hobby, all of which contribute to your overall well-being.
5. Long-term sustainability: Regular breaks contribute to long-term sustainability and prevent burnout. Pushing yourself to work continuously without breaks can lead to exhaustion, decreased motivation, and decreased job satisfaction. By incorporating breaks into your routine, you create a healthier work-life balance, which is essential for your overall happiness and sustained productivity in the long run.
So the next time you consider skipping a break…don't. Go take a nap. It's good for you. And you don’t get an award for being burnt out.