Why You Should Take a Break

Are you reluctant to slow down and take a break because you have so much to do? Do you find yourself getting up earlier and working through lunch? Even if you love what you do and feel you are getting more done, your performance may be suffering. I just returned from vacation where I spent seven days at the beach. It is my favorite place to rest and rejuvenate. I have vacationed before because I wanted to but in this case, I needed to. I was tired and burnt out. I could have avoided getting to this point if I had taken breaks along the way to renew myself. Athletes understand this especially well. The greater the performance demand the greater the need for renewal. Here are three ways you can avoid burn out. 1.    Take regular breaks during the day. Studies show that one-third of employees eat lunch at their desk. Working long periods of time without a break will make you less productive. History tells us that working in ninety-minute blocks of time with breaks in between will maximize our efficiency. 2.    Get plenty of sleep. The amount of sleep required to function is subjective to the individual. I require more sleep than many people I meet. However, too little sleep is defined as one of the best predictors of on-the-job burn out. Studies show six hours or less of sleep is not enough. The more rested you are, the better you perform. 3.    Take a vacation. One study showed that for each additional ten hours of vacation time employees took; their performance improved eight percent. They were also happier and less likely to leave the company. It is our perception that the most highly productive and successful individuals drive hard and work tirelessly without stopping, but the opposite is the case. Highly productive people understand the importance of rest, renewal and pacing themselves. And they accomplish more. Taking a break can help you gain perspective, recharge and refocus. Have a great week!