Three benefits from taking a break
We are not machines. I know you know this, but it bears repeating. We’re bombarded with messages about how to be more productive, do more with less, optimize our lives -- but we aren’t machines! We don’t run through perfectly coded processes that can be easily optimized with a few clicks of some buttons. We are messy, complex, organic humans. We have needs, and one of those is rest. Studies repeatedly show that when we push ourselves past our limits, our performance degrades. We need to rest; we need to practice self care; we need to recognize our humanity.
When we're working hard to change our lives or change the world, it can feel like we can't stop. There's so much work to do! Who will do it if we stop! But we have to think bigger and realize that we're in this for the long haul. It's a marathon; not a sprint. You'll serve yourself and your communities better by taking a break to recharge before we keep going.
Here are a few ways you’re likely to benefit from giving yourself a break:
It can be hard to give ourselves breaks in a world that is so “go go go,” but just like anything, it is a practice. The more you practice, the easier and more natural it will become.
Is it hard for you to take breaks? What do you do when you're taking a break? Let me know in the comments 💜