Taking Space for yourself
Recently I had to take an impromptu break, it all got too much for me and I wasn’t in a headspace that was helping me or others.
Can you think of a time in the past that you might have needed to take a break? A common one is working late into the night trying to solve a problem only to give up and on waking up find the solution jumping fully formed out of some elusive dark space in your head you couldn’t access the night before.
“Taking a break doesn’t mean you’re not doing your job – it means you’re doing it better.”
We all need a break from time to time, but it's not always easy to recognize when we've reached that point. Whether it's working late into the night trying to solve a problem or feeling overwhelmed by the demands of our work, it's important to know when it's time to step back and recharge.
But how can you tell when a break is needed? Here are a few questions to consider:
Do I know what to do next?
Am I further along than I was "X time" ago?
What am I not doing in this time?
If I took a break right now, what would be the impact?
If you answer "no" to any of these questions, it might be time to take a break. But it's not just about taking a break – it's also about making the most of it. Here are some additional questions to consider when starting your break:
What negative feelings do I have at the moment?
What is the "positive opposite" of those feelings?
When in the past have you felt that "positive opposite"?
A break can look different for everyone – it might be spending time with family, reading a book, going for a walk, or taking the time to actively not do anything. By being mindful about when you need a break, why you need that break, and how to get the most from a break, you can forge your own relationship with how you work and maintain your physical and mental well-being.