3 Insightful things taking a long break taught me
Taking a break is a form of catharsis.
It’s easy to get caught up in our everyday tasks. Sometimes, it feels like you are going through the motions.
Everyday tasks are relentless; eventually, bad habits begin to form. As someone who has a daily routine, I must stick to a strict schedule to ensure productivity.
After 6–8 weeks of consistency, familiarity begins to form. Soon, my routine is ineffective, and my time management skills decline, not significantly, but to the point that I start to notice my bad habits making an appearance. Therefore, I reset it.
My reset includes a new routine, a new environment, and rewards for accomplishing small tasks.
Taking a break from a strict routine or long study sessions is essential; it increases productivity. After a pause, you return with a fresher mind, more energy, and the desire to complete tasks increases.
Back in December, I decided to take a break from my daily routine.
My break was supposed to last a whole week. A week-long rest turned into a month.
This chain of procrastination carried into January. The habits I worked so hard to break began to return; I knew that I needed to revert to the routine that helped me be productive, release stress, and put my mind at ease.
Here is what I learned during my month-long break:
- Breaks are essential
Unless you are a robot and can consistently do the same thing over and over again every day, you don’t need a break. Once we become familiar with a fixed environment, we become accustomed to it until it changes. We are always adjusting and adapting to our environment. Taking a break from a set task helps in the sense that you’ve broken that familiarity. Once you come back to it, you learn to navigate the errand and gain new spectacles.
2. Breaks restore motivation
Flow or being the zone is a state we all wish to reach. Taking a break and returning to an activity restores motivation; we attain flow, and the desire to continue working expands.
3. Don’t let your “break” last longer than it should
- When a break is longer than a week, it becomes the new normal.
Above all, let’s not forget to take care of ourselves. Taking care of ourselves can include: meditation, changing our environment, or getting in enough sleep. Go ahead, take a break; you deserve it.
