Breaks are important – of course we know that. But do we do them too? Nope, it’s still possible after all. There are a few things that we should recover from every now and then. That’s why we’re taking breaks now – on different levels.
We know that we don’t work all the time, that we’re not always on call for friends and family, and that we can’t solve problems at the same time. Actually. Yet most of us have not learned to set boundaries and stick to them to protect ourselves. This also includes: Breaks. And by that we don’t just mean having a quick coffee and then getting back to business. But also these ones, which we tend to underestimate, but which cost us a lot of energy if we don’t do them.
1. Body break
Do you sometimes feel like a pile of body junk? Legs are heavy, neck completely tense, headache, tired and unfocused. Then you obviously haven’t listened to what your body was telling you for a while, namely: “Hey, get on the sofa and rest, I’m not going to do this any longer!”. And honestly: Then you should listen to him too, otherwise it won’t get any better. If you tend to suffer from tension, a quiet yoga session can also help. The main thing is that you give yourself and your unrelaxed body a break before it gets really annoying.
2. People break
They exist, the so-called energy vampires. Only if your battery is already close to emergency power is it not so clever to let the remaining power be drained from you. Listen to what your energy level says. If that sounds like you urgently need to recharge, just give yourself time with people who are good for you or completely alone.
3. Head break
This is probably the hardest-fought break. Getting your head to shut up instead of ruminating or solving problems in a constant loop. But that’s exactly what draws a lot of energy. To give your upper room some peace and quiet, you can challenge it with exercise, meditation or a walk to strengthen your mental power again and sleep better.
4. Emotional break
If you always feel like you have to control and suppress your emotions, it can become incredibly stressful in the long run. So break the cycle: Say how you feel and stop pretending for other people. Give yourself an emotional break.
5. Creative break
Creativity dies when we are completely energized. Especially in jobs where it is important to develop ideas and be innovative, stress and tension are the absolute mortal enemies that slow down any form of creativity. If you feel like you can’t produce anything good anymore or feel completely empty, it helps to take the pressure off and give yourself a break so that your brain is ready for new ideas again.
6. Stimulus break
Too loud, too bright, too colorful, too smelly, too much input: your recording capacity has been exhausted? What would be good for you: A power nap on the couch. Close your eyes, don’t hear or see anything. A break for all your senses. And then, when the overstimulation has subsided, you’ll be fresh again and ready for something new.