Importance of Taking Breaks at Work

PBW_0213_005Sometimes you are so over your head with work and obligations that you forget what it’s like to not be constantly running around, on your way to an appointment, or buried under projects and paperwork. In the midst of all the chaos, it’s important to make sure that you are living a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle. Here is a list of 5 things to think about when you’re feeling overwhelmed or in a rut and to remind you of the importance of taking breaks at work.

Throughout the work day or even after you get home, try to remember to:

Take short breaks and regroup

If you are feeling like your eyes are glazed over and your head is about to hit your keyboard, instead of putting in half the amount of effort as you normally would into your work, it may be time to take a quick break. Stand up and stretch, get up to get a glass of water, maybe even walk around the block. This allows you to clear your head, hopefully wake up a bit and get back to a focused and more alert state.

Balance work and play

Remember that it is ok to reward yourself for all of the hard work that is being put into your daily crazy lifestyle, running a business and fostering relationships. Everyone has a different formula that works for them individually for balancing work and play. It is important that you are taking time for other activities outside of work, even if it’s only a few hours here and there for pleasure reading or a hobby.

Sleep on it and look at it again with fresh eyes

Staying up all night can seldom have more negative outcomes than positive. Don’t fry your brain. Sometimes it is best to find a good stopping point, get a good nights rest and reopen the project with a fresh set of eyes. You can catch things you might have missed, maybe be inspired with a new idea, or have the energy you were lacking in order to finish what you started.

Ask for help when you need it

If you are working day in and day out and you rarely have a moments rest, you may want to consider asking for help. You can ask help from friends, family, or colleges and it doesn’t have to be anything daunting. Maybe you need help having someone pick you up a coffee; maybe you can ask if someone else makes dinner tonight so you can relax. Whatever it is, don’t be afraid to ask every now and then.

Take a step back and look at the big picture

Don’t lose sight of what is important. Remember that health is more important than anything, and you don’t want to be working yourself to exhaustion. Make sure that your mind is in the right state, that you are being healthy, staying active, and that you are taking some personal time to do other things that you enjoy – separate from work.

Keeping these suggestions in mind, you should be on your way to leading a healthier and maybe even less stressful life. Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses! No really, try it, they smell really good.

About Jamie Teasdale

Jamie Teasdale founded Propel Businessworks, a small business development company, in 2009. Since then, she has been lending insight and creativity to businesses all over the U.S., giving them the tools they need to plan, promote, and prosper.