The Nurturing Well By: Jill Starbuck
We require many basic daily needs in order to live healthy and comfortable lives. These include such things as food, water, exercise, companionship, communication, and more. But one thing that often gets put on the back burner for many of us is a break. While fitness junkies and workaholics are especially guilty of this, most of us take on too many tasks and forget to give ourselves a much needed break now and then. We chauffeur our children to various activities, clean our houses, pay our bills, prepare our meals, shop for groceries, work, and so much more. We are a busy nation. However, no matter who you are, you need time off for both mental and physical reasons.
According to Glassdoor, a job and recruiting site, in its 2014 Employment Confidence Survey, only 25% of Americans who receive vacation time actually take all of it each year. And for those who do take vacation time, 61% admitted that they work while on vacation!1 Taking a break once in a while is important. The following are just a few of the reasons taking a break is beneficial.
1. Avoid burnout. Taking a break helps you avoid burnout. Whether you are a committed runner or a workaholic, after a while you can get to the point where you literally hate working or running. You find yourself so devoted to a specific activity that it consumes you. You begin to put aside everything else in order to work or exercise. Therefore, you no longer have the ability to really appreciate it. By giving yourself a break, you begin to appreciate what you truly enjoy.
2. Provides time for other things. Sometimes we get so caught up in our routines that we don’t make time for other important things in life, such as family and friends. Taking a break can help you tackle things that you normally can’t get to.
3. Lessens stress. As with anything in life, too much of one thing can become extremely stressful. If you never give yourself a break from stress, you risk injury and other unhealthy ailments, including heart issues, high blood pressure, headaches, and more.
4. Enhances mood. Too much of a good thing can leave you feeling overwhelmed and irritable. Taking a break allows you to regroup and take a load off your shoulders.
5. Improves performance. When we do the same thing over and over, we often get bored and fail to see results. For instance, if runners increasingly add more miles to their regimen each week, their legs start to get heavy and they become easily fatigued. However, if they take a break occasionally, they come back stronger on rested legs. The same goes for workaholics. After a while, people begin to run out of ideas and start to make avoidable mistakes because they are exhausted and bored. They lack intellectual stimulation because they do not break out of their routine. A break helps people come back stronger and with better attitudes.
Many signs exist when it’s time to take a break. They include lack of energy, insomnia, muscle aches, lack of motivation, constant frustration, and more. Generally, you will know when you need a break. Schedule a break today and reap the benefits.
Jill Starbuck has 20 years of experience as a business writer, editor, and market research analyst. She is a certified health coach through the Integrative Institute of Nutrition and a certified running coach through the Road Runners Club of America. She is also the co-owner of a running business. She can be reached at jillstarbuck@hotmail.com.
