- 60 years ago we didn’t own a personal computer
- 27 years ago we didn’t have access to the Internet
- 14 years ago we didn’t have a Facebook or LinkedIn account
- 11 years ago we were not addicted to our smartphones
Constantly connected by screens at home and at work, no wonder it feels like we never have time.
Until a holiday comes along. And suddenly we hit the pause button on all that seems to seize our time and attention.
Whether it’s a national or religious holiday, a vacation, or simply a weekend, here’s why we should be pushing the pause button more often:
1. Improved Body and Mind: Studies show a break improves our sleep, our mood, and our blood pressure.
2. Ruminating Respite: A break allows us to step back and assess with a fresh perspective that which we had been anxiously brooding. And research shows that upon returning to work, our respite from ruminating lasts up to two weeks!
3. Creativity Shift: Because we stop ruminating, studies confirm that when we return to work, our thinking becomes more flexible, collaborative, and innovative.
4. Recharge: Athletes schedule recovery breaks in their training to maintain top performance. Similarly we need recovery breaks from work in order to perform at our best.
5. Increased Positivity: Research reveals that taking a break provides us with a boost of enthusiasm, excitement, and positivity in anticipation of the break and upon return.
So embrace the pause this holiday offers: an opportunity to restore the body, ruminate less, think differently, recharge, and return with refreshed energy to create whatever is next!
Happy Pause Button!