I was catching up with some friends at our local coffee shop the other Saturday. Being the long Easter weekend, the topic of conversation was how good it is to have an extended break, and how quickly the year had gone. One person in our group shared how their employer had forced them to take four weeks of annual leave, as they had accrued nearly two years of leave, and had not taken a proper holiday for over ten years. They shared how their enforced break had helped them take some well-earned time out to rest, refresh themselves, and catch up on things. The conversation then turned to how important it is to take regular breaks, stop, smell the roses, and how taking some time out does wonders for your health and mental wellbeing.

Far too many people come to the realisation of the importance of regular breaks too late in life. It seems one of the false measures of personal success is busy-ness. Too often people boast at how busy they are at work, or how they have had no time for themselves, or how they just have not had the time to reply to a close friend’s call. The measure of success in life is not how busy you are, but how fulfilled and contented you are.

Time is all we have in life. We all have a choice on what we spend our time on. The importance of breaks cannot be understated. Schools have 10-week terms for a reason. Children and staff need time out to refresh, reflect, and rebuild their energy stocks. Taking regular breaks offers numerous benefits including:

• Improved focus and productivity
• Reduced mental fatigue
• Increased creativity
• Enhanced problem solving abilities
• Better energy levels
• Improved sleep patterns
• An increased awareness of what is happening around you

All these lead to improved wellbeing, but also allow your brain to rest and recharge, leading to a better ability to reflect on and prioritise life goals. Breaks help create a circuit breaker to take stock and help clarify what is important to focus on. Additionally, regular breaks can help prevent burnout and improve long term cognitive (mental) health.

What follows are some tips to taking regular breaks:

Schedule breaks: Regular short breaks are just as important as extended breaks. Key to both is to schedule them. An unscheduled break almost never happens. Something else always comes up. But look for suitable times of the year when you can schedule a break. Often these may coincide with public holidays, school terms, changes in season, or public or family events.

No-one can work 100 per cent effectively 100 per cent of the time

Prioritise time with family: Time with family is precious. When all is said and done it is family time that creates memories. Those wonderful unscripted moments that occur when a family is together, just enjoying each other.

A family that travels together, stays together

Turn off, tune out: Important to disconnect, and have some time free of devices, emails, and the daily work rituals. The practice of mindfulness requires a total switch off. There is no best formula. Things like hiking, camping, lying on the beach, reading a book, meditation, cycling, or pursuing a hobby are all examples of mindfulness that require you to turn off and tune out.

The key is to declutter the mind by turning off work triggers
(emails, social media, phone calls etc)

Change the environment to change the routine: You do not need to go on an overseas holiday. Any change of environment is good, as this changes the daily triggers. Picnics, road trips to the country, playing sport, following a team, attending an event, or anything that helps “feed your soul.” This is specific to you and what you enjoy.

A break of routine is a break for the mind

Read, listen, watch: Take time out to read a book, listen to music or a podcast, watch movies or binge watch on a streaming channel. This is your time out time! Play board games, make meals together as a family, but it is important to have your “just chilling out time.” Do something you enjoy.

You need a mechanism and methodology to switch off

Catch up: With sleep, family, friends, and your own personal wellbeing. We all put things off. Breaks provide the opportunity to sleep in without an alarm, make the time to see family and friends, catch up with household chores, and prioritise your health.

Success at the expense of your family or health is failure!

Get fresh air and sunlight: It is amazing the healing effects nature has. Some fresh air, vitamin D (with sunscreen) and the sights and sounds of nature have a cathartic impact on the mind, body, and soul. Stop and take in a sunset. Go for a walk in nature. Have a picnic in a state forest. Breath in the salt air at the beach.

Nature itself is the best doctor

The first duty in life any leader has, is to themself. If a leader is feeling well, balanced, and refreshed, they are more effective, more productive, more objective, and importantly, more able to lend a hand to someone else.

Leadership Lesson

Rest and self-care are important.
When you take time out to rest, re-energise, and replenish your spirit, you come back with a heighted ability to perform and inspire others.
You cannot serve from an empty vessel!

Facta Non-Verba – Deeds Not Words