In today's busy world with a never-ending "to-do" list of obligations, responsibilities, and commitments, it's hard to take a break. In today's episode, I share my own experience of taking a break in the midst of the daily grind and why it's important to get off the grid every now and then for your own well-being and creativity. Wherever you are in your career, and whether you love almost every minute of what you do or you need to get better aligned, you can purposefully and deliberately build in time to rest, relax, and rejuvenate.

Key Takeaways

[2:29] We used to get breaks built-in during summer vacation and winter break in school, but in the real world, it is a lot tougher to take time off. Even if we do get vacation days or holidays, many of us have fear and insecurity about missing something or dropping the ball.

[8:16] Even if you love what you do it is still healthy to take a break.

[10:09] Breaks give us the chance to rest our brain, break out of everyday habits and let our minds wander to regain more stamina and creativity.

[13:12] We are never promised tomorrow, and no one is sure what each day will bring. The important thing is to focus on what and who matters most in life, and to take time to fully connect with them and ourselves.

[16:27] Deadlines and set goals absolutely do matter but in between them it's just as important to rest as it is to move on to the next item on the list.

[18:40] Whatever career level you are at, you deserve to purposely and deliberately build in more breaks to pause and unplug.

[21:04] A break can be a nice vacation, or it can just be something simple, such as going for a quiet walk or reading a book. I keep one journal for thoughts and another for gratitude and self-compassion and find the time writing in these always gives me a nice built-in time for reflection.

[25:18] Staying busy can be a way to distract ourselves from our own feelings. The more time we give to fully feel all the emotions, even the uncomfortable ones, the more quickly we move through them.

Resources:

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TED Radio Hour

A Year to Live: How to Live This Year as If It Were Your Last, by Stephen Levine

The Sixth Man: A Memoir, by Andre Iguodala