lesson 8: take breaks
what better way to end the summer (sorry!) than to celebrate the need for rest and relaxation. you work hard, i know that. you hate to get behind on email, or have serious office FOMO on your favorite projects. but, if you're waking up after 8 hours of sleep, feeling groggy, or you feel like you'd like to throw your phone in a fountain (a la Devil Wears Prada), then it's time to give yourself a break! giving your mind and body time to rest and recharge is key to long-term success.
“sometimes you have to take a step back, in order to move forward.”
how to take a break (i know, it's hard).
quick and dirty:
- leave your phone at home when you go out to dinner. your #foodporn can take a night off.
- go for a walk or a run (also without your phone)
- go to a workout class with a friend
- read a book, with paper pages
- do a project, some arts and crafts, or some adult coloring
- cook or bake something that you wouldn't normally do
- book a spa appointment
- organize your closets
- write a letter to a friend
- explore a new neighborhood in your city
- listen to music or make a new favorite playlist
- call a friend you haven't talk to in a while
and if all of that sounds too exhausting, then just take a nap.
a little more of a commitment:
- plan a trip. whether it's to visit a friend or family you haven't seen in a while, or just purely to get away. do it. depending on your budget, and whether you go for one-night, or a week, just give yourself some change of scenery. it's healthy. some favorite places:
- New Orleans
- Newport, RI
- Hudson Valley
- LA
- Savannah, GA
- Berkshires
- Cape Cod
- Nashville, TN
- Key West
- Cape May, NJ
- Bermuda
- Greece
- Belize
- Portugal
once you've given your brain and body a chance to recharge, you'll be amazed at how rejuvenated you feel. you can come back to work and real-life refreshed, with new ideas and excited, instead of depleted. now go, enjoy some me-time!
photo cred: bill stauffer @ hamilton princess beach club, bermuda
