Do You Want To Be Creative? Take Breaks Often

Own up if you’ve skipped lunch over the last week or two because of some ‘deadline’? I guess I know many people who regularly skip their lunch breaks. Do you understand what happened to these people? They’re tired/burning out, or having health issues.

No joke, if you don’t take a break, you’re not doing yourself any favours. You’re doing more harm than good.

Imagine The Following

David worked in a team of 10 people at a large financial services firm and was considered one of the team until Kathy, the Manager, left. Since he was one of the most experienced staff members on the team, he was appointed the manager. The new role brought new responsibilities and ‘headaches’ in the form of his team members.

Before becoming the department head, he would take regular breaks and go out for lunch. However, that all changed as the paperwork started piling up. David also spent more time in his office and often closed his office door more often than Kathy did, which created a psychological divide. Within a short time, the team also noticed a change in his behaviour. Before becoming a manager, he was friendly, approachable and easy to get on.

It seemed to be a precedence in the department; the previous boss, Kathy, was no better. She was a workaholic and even worked through some weekends depending on the deal that the team were working on. She skipped lunch more or less every day and would grab something from the restaurant downstairs. Her diet wasn’t healthy. Her favourite snack was chocolate.

However, Kathy had excellent people skills and created a fun working environment when she was in the mood. Other times, it was heads down, and get on with it. The team didn’t grumble because they knew she had some personal issues.

Both managers would find themselves repeatedly firefighting on business issues, leaving little time for creative thinking. Interestingly, Kathy encouraged the team to take a break, but she didn’t listen to her advice. On the other hand, David was hands-off regarding what he did with their break time.

Thankfully, the team didn’t take a leaf out of David or Kathy’s book because they would have burned out due to the nature of the business.

What happened to Kathy and David? Stay tuned…

The Downside of Not Taking Breaks

• Burnout over time
• Not enough time for self-care
• Not letting the brain pause and reflect
• Sleeping problems
• Health issues
• Lower resistance levels
• Mood issues
• Stress
• Not thinking ‘outside of the box’
• Mental Health
• Personal relationships are impacted by second-hand stress
• Not enjoying the moment
• Not planning sufficiently ahead
• Not feeling 100% on top of your game

I believe there’s always a solution, no matter how busy one can be. It’s about being smart with your time. How? Apply the 85% Rule.

Apply The 85% Rule

Athletes know the secret formula, which is the 85% rule. What does this mean? It means paving yourself like a marathon runner. They’ve identified 85% effort as the ‘sweet spot’ — the optimal level. This level of effort provides room for growth, consistency, and longevity in their athletic journey.

Operating at 85% effort allows athletes to balance pushing their limits and preserving their physical and mental reserves. It respects the need to recover and adapt whilst sustaining a quest for success. Subsequently, athletes avoid the pitfalls of overtraining, injury, and burnout.

The Employee

You might say that applies to an athlete, but how does this play out in the workplace? It’s not about juggling multiple tasks but choosing your effort levels based on importance. It’s about reaching the finish line and consistently moving forward with resilience and wisdom. This way, we can sustain ourselves without the risk of burnout, which is real if no checks are in place.

Make Time Work For You

Make time work for you instead of running after it. It pays to add more buffer time to your work schedule so you’re not spinning multiple ‘plates simultaneously. I know many people who do, and they feel guilty for not taking regular breaks.

Remember, the onus is on you because no one will figure this out. Only you know yourself better than anyone else. However, striking a better work/life balance pays handsome rewards in the short and long term.

Parting Comments

David still works as the Director of the Business Department. He has improved at taking breaks because of the intense pressure of working in a financial services company. Sadly, five years after Kathy left, she passed away from health complications on an international business trip.

Could things have been different if Kathy had taken better care of her health by taking regular breaks? Only God knows, but her example reminds others, especially those who think nothing of it, if they skip their breaks regularly.

Don’t get me wrong, skipping breaks occasionally won’t land you in any hot, healthy water, but do it often, and you could pay a heavy price for physical and mental well-being.

Thank you for your attention.

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Pervin

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