Taking Time Off

This blog post was written a couple of weeks ago because I am taking this week completely off! I say completely off, but the truth is I’ll probably check email and my business social media accounts. It’s hard to take time off these days. It’s challenging to completely unplug and let the world keep on spinning. Technology has been such an important and powerful tool in our lives, but it also keeps us from fully pulling away from work and other responsibilities.

I am taking a well-needed vacation with my husband this week. We both own our own businesses, so taking time off is very challenging for us. We are incredibly lucky and grateful to have these businesses, but we are also very dedicated and often completely exhausted. I know we are not alone because I meet people every day who work far more than the traditional forty hours a week. I left my laptop at home, but my husband brought his with him. I can’t complain. I understand that he has many responsibilities and is committed to being available to those he serves.

Relaxation 101: Schedule Your Downtime

With all of that rationalizing, I’m here to suggest that we all might want to put some time off on our calendars for 2019, myself included. Studies show that breaks, vacations, staycations, and time away from work make us more productive, less stressed, and more creative. Yet so many of us don’t even break for lunch every day! The world, and your work, will look a whole lot better when you step away for a bit.

We can’t all take elaborate vacations or even substantial time away from work. However, we can all take some time away from work throughout the day. Schedule in a lunch break and a mid-morning and mid-afternoon break EVERY DAY. Track your productivity and you will see that those breaks lead to greater, not less, productivity. Set an end time to work every day and then put your technology away and be present to your surroundings. There is no greater gift you can give yourself than some quiet, reflective personal time.

Put all of these times on your calendar. Seriously! Your time off is every bit as important as all of those meetings you go to. Keep those scheduled times as sacred recovery time. Take a walk, a quick nap, call a friend, read a book, or just sit and look out at the world. Your emotional and physical health will improve and so will your attitude toward the world.

I’m committing to doing this myself. Let’s keep each other accountable. Let me know how you are doing with your newly scheduled time off.

Love,

Lisa Kaplin Psy. D. PCC