I don’t take breaks because I don’t want to work. I take breaks in order to give my best work possible.
Rest is what allows me to be productive. If I work nonstop for hours on end, that’s an easy way to burn out. On the other hand, if I am not intentional and strategic when I take breaks, that’s an easy way to lose motivation.
This is not just intended as a piece of practical motivation for students and workers. It's for anybody who wants a more manageable workflow throughout their day.
There are three keys to resting that have helped me be productive:
Scheduling frequent short breaks throughout my workflow.
Following through with my schedule and taking my breaks, even if I
I don't feel I need them.
Making my breaks restful rather than stressful.
Frequent Short Breaks
Practically speaking, I schedule a 10-minute break for every hour. Everyone’s workflow is different, but even if you don’t have the luxury of setting your own schedule as I do, you can create your own version of this that works for you.
My flow typically follows this pattern:
Work 50 minutes (e.g. 9:00 am to 9:50 am)
Take a 10 minute break (e.g. 9:50 am to 10:00 am)
Repeat every hour
There are exceptions of course, such as when I take lunch or have a legitimate interruption. The important thing, however, is that most of my breaks must be planned. And then they can be replanned if my workflow gets thrown off. Ultimately, my breaks are scheduled and timed strategically, rather than just taken whenever I don’t feel like working. It is the consistency of a rhythm that allows rest to fuel productivity.
Follow Through
The biggest temptation and pitfall for us is to break our own schedule. Essentially, we get into a good flow of work and feel like we don’t need to take a break at the time we scheduled it. Resting feels lazy and unproductive. But that’s the trap.
The purpose of resting is not merely to relieve me when I’m feeling tired – even if that’s a great benefit. The purpose of resting is to keep me healthy and energized, so I can be productive. Following through with my plan is what keeps me motivated. I lose that motivation when I’m sporadic and unintentional. So for that reason, I take my breaks at their scheduled times, whether I feel like it or not.
Restful Rather than Stressful
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the effectiveness of a break comes down to how we use that time. I can recall many instances in which I’ve wasted an opportunity to rest. When I don’t spend my break time well, I ruin the chance to energize and rejuvenate myself for when I get back to work.
Things not to do during a break:
Browsing my phone, news, internet, etc.
Viewing mind-numbing entertainment like YouTube, Netflix, etc.
Extended time checking non-urgent texts, group chats, social media, etc.
Taking care of business that I can handle later (e.g. paying a bill or checking the status of an online order)
Generally doing anything unnecessary that is tiring or won’t refresh me
Nothing on the above list is evil or wrong per se, but it’s all draining. It generally sucks my energy rather than vitalizing me. That’s not what I want to happen when I rest.
This is not to say that there isn’t a time for any of these things. I can usually catch up on them before or after work. Just not when I have a short break and need to get back to work imminently.
Things to do during a break:
Sitting down in silence, closing my eyes, and deep-breathing (my personal favorite)
Going for a walk outside in the sunshine and fresh air (my second favorite)
Taking a power nap
Prayer or meditation
Listening to relaxing music
Catching up with a friend
Not an exhaustive list of course, but I think these are very good ways to actually relax during a break. Whatever you decide to do, make sure it’s something that will allow you to recharge and prepare you to be the most productive you can be when you're back to work.
Finally
Don’t make this a burden. These principles are designed to help make life easier, but there are exceptions to almost everything in this piece. Some things are out of my control. Sometimes, I can’t take a break every single hour. Sometimes, sacrificing a break might be necessary. Sometimes, my breaks don’t always need to be the most restful. The principles are good to follow, but not to the point of emotional disarray.
Furthermore, good rest is ultimately a mindset that you cultivate. The examples I’ve given are particularly related to schoolwork, employment, or just day-to-day productivity. But as you begin to implement strategic times of rest, I hope you will begin to apply that mindset to every area of life.
Can you be more restful when you’re finished with work? Can you be more restful on the weekend or on your days off of work? Can you be more restful when having fun with friends and family? Can you be more restful with personal entertainment?
Rest is not the enemy of what is good. It’s actually the key ingredient of it. And I pray that your life is more blessed as you make it more a part of your life!
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