As we get closer to the holidays, it’s crunch time for a lot of people in our business community. A vacation may be just around the corner for you. If not, you will find this blog to be an important and exciting challenge.

It’s time to take a break! And taking this break may actually have a significant positive impact on your productivity, wellness and the important relationships in both your business and personal life.

Research from the Mayo Clinic points to the importance of taking breaks often. If you’re in the middle of a deal, or if it’s just the middle of the day, taking a break gives your brain a chance to refuel.

The part of your brain where you do all your concentrating and thinking, the pre-frontal cortex, is a resource hog. Similar to the muscles in your arms and legs, the brain requires a significant amount of oxygen, water, glucose and rest to function at optimal levels. If you plow ahead without a pit stop, you burn out your ability to do your best thinking, inventing or communicating. If a pit stop is okay for a NASCAR or INDY racer, who has to get things done fast, it could be good enough for you! You’ll feel it when it’s missing, and I hope you become more aware of it, especially if you’ve gotten used to ignoring the feeling.

Here’s what to do instead:

• Some experts recommend taking a 10-minute break every hour. Others suggest you find your own rhythm, but consider at least taking some time away from a focused task after two hours of continuous work. A break doesn’t have to mean sneaking away somewhere for a nap. In fact, breaks shouldn’t be sedentary. Movement of some sort along with deep breathing work wonders for your mind such as a walk up and down the hall or a short visit outdoors for some fresh air.

• Drink plenty of water and eat healthy foods like fresh fruits and nuts. That helps a lot!

• Beyond just taking short breaks during the working day, consider the importance of taking a vacation.

If you’re working on a deal that has a deadline, consider being the leader you have always wanted to be (or whispering in the ear of the leaders you are working with) to make the following information available: according to Dr. Michael W. Smith as published on WebMD, “People who take vacations have lower stress, less risk of heart disease, a better outlook on life, and more motivation to achieve goals… It doesn’t have to be two weeks in Europe, either”

Whatever you can do to give yourself that break, you’ll end up doing much clearer thinking and that can help get the deal done right.

On that note, on behalf of my family and the whole gang here at JFCA, Happy Holidays and best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year to you and yours.