Groundbreaking entrepreneurs take advantage of every moment they can, but that doesn't mean they dedicate all their time to business. Being conscious of when to take a break to re-energize and recollect oneself is crucial to doing great work. The same goes for all employees who are dedicated to their work.
Making the Most of a Break
People need time to recharge to be as productive as possible, which is why taking breaks is so important. Taking a break can be especially difficult for people who work from home, who are mixing the boundaries between work and home life and often feel like they've already taken a break when they haven't.
More and more people are having trouble disconnecting from their emails, work chats, and tasks, always doing just a little bit more before they clock out for lunch. While this might seem like a good idea at the time, in the end, people often produce lesser quality work than when they truly take some time to disconnect and recharge.
Julia Cameron mentions in The Artist's Way that people think they need a considerable timeframe to feel renewed and be able to make great work, but they can do a lot with small pieces of time throughout the day. The problem is that people often worry about how they spend their free time and can't enjoy their breaks.
That's why taking up an activity is helpful to get the mind focused on something else for a while, so when people do get back to work, they can see it with fresh eyes and a clear head. Many entrepreneurs admit they perform their own quirky activities on their breaks, which helps inspire them to work better. Everyone is different regarding how they spend their free time, but below are a few ideas for exciting activities to do during a break.
Light Exercise
Everyone knows exercise is essential for overall health. However, most people tend to exercise before or after their shifts. While that might work for some, studies have shown that doing light exercise in the middle of the day has made people work and feel better.
Besides the fact that exercise releases endorphins, which boost mood and energy, it also breaks up the day into parts, making it less monotonous. On top of that, exercising on a break gives people more free time because they don't have to head to the gym before or after work.
Taking a jog, doing yoga, or even hitting up a nearby gym for a quick thirty minutes are all great choices. Make sure to pack a lunch to save some time.
Mental Games
While some people enjoy a bit of light exercise on their break, others enjoy mental activities. With practice, mental games can improve cognitive abilities, memory retention, coordination, and, most importantly, critical thinking.
Although some might get bogged down by the limitations that mental games demand, others consider it a challenge. As Picasso once said, "learn the rules like a pro to break them like an artist." It take some time, but once people become familiar with poker rules, the game becomes more and more interesting. It's fun to work with the limitations to defeat an opponent.
What makes these games so interesting is that despite all their rules, they encourage players to work around them to make creative decisions and, in doing so, win the game. Playing games that inspire out-of-the-box thinking can help influence important decisions while recharging the mind.
Energizing Activities to Do during Breaks
Catch-up on the Phone
Where some people enjoy a physical or mental challenge, others like to wind down in the company of friends. Talking to coworkers is nice sometimes, but since they're related to work life, it can be difficult to disconnect truly. That's why talking to a friend or family member during a break is another great way to feel refreshed. Usually, people can express how they think, solve problems, and listen to their friends' stories, which helps to release stress, provide a sense of belonging, and improve mental health.
The Bottom Line
Whatever activity it might involve, it's important to take the time to completely disconnect on break to feel re-energized and ready to take on more work. By exercising, socializing or simply enjoying a change of scenery, people feel happier and more enthusiastic. This in turn provides them with a positive perspective in both their professional and private lives.
