Why Taking a Break is Important for Busy Professionals
“Vacation used to be a luxury, however, in today's world, it has become a necessity.”
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The current trends in holidays and vacations are worrying. Culturally, we are quickly moving from shorter and shorter holiday stays and now into the "staycation," where instead of exploring and adventuring further abroad (though not necessarily internationally), we laze at home in the hopes of saving some money and just getting some rest and relaxation. This rarely happens, though. While ideally time at home should be less stressful given there is no travel time involved, an array of home projects and lengthy to do lists tend make an appearance. Instead of providing us the opportunity to engage with the local community and have a closer inspection of attractions in one's own backyard, too often we busy professionals try to pile in as much catching up as we can during our "stay." On top of that, with the proliferation of the Blackberry and other office extension cords, we spend part of the time checking in with the office. For entrepreneurs or work-at-home professionals, home is the office and a "staycation" quickly becomes just another "workathon." If you’re one of these types of people – a busy professional – it is you that deserves a break the most.
Why is a break so important?
When you are hard at work your brain switch into action mode, aiming on delivery and details. You take a passionate, laser-precision focus into your daily tasks and when things get really busy, the edges start to blur and you hone in on the primary objectives. But that's tiring, and doing it day in and day out wears you down. Sooner or later, you lose sight of everything on the fringe and just continue grinding away into your day-to-day routine.
If you're an entrepreneur, it's easy to be scared about not making the numbers. So you'll focus twice as hard just to make sure ends meet. But what happens when a competitor comes out of nowhere because you were too busy to notice? Or how about that new brainstorm that would make your product or service twice as valuable? By keeping your brain filled the details of the mundane, you'll have no room left for those creative moments to blossom. That scenario should be far scarier – innovation is key for entrepreneurial success.
If you're a corporate professional, objectives pushed from the top-down and tight financial times means the office pressure can be competitive and intense. Peer pressure can make it difficult to get away, fearing political repercussions. But getting away gives perspective on the big picture and may give you a chance to identify a new direction, allowing you to impress your management, leap ahead of your colleagues and blast away at those objectives.
What can you do to make space for a break?
Are you overworked, overstressed, or just in a rut? That’s ok. Acknowledging the situation is a great first step. Most problems can be fixed, but you can only fix them if you know about them.
Now, if you're going to do something about it, why not get some help? Alex Fayle over at Someday Syndrome http://www.somedaysyndrome.com has a free mini-course called the Freelancer Vacation Clinic http://somedaysyndrome.com/freelancer-vacation-clinic that I can recommend. While the course is actually designed for Freelancers and their specific challenges around writing deadlines and such, the excuses and questions raised in the Clinic apply across the board to all busy professionals. So, if you're thinking of taking a break and unable to find the space necessary for some breathing room, go check the Clinic out.
Vacation is a Necessity
Today’s world business is fast-paced and changes at lightening-speed. Your instincts tell you to speed up, to go faster, in order to win the race. But by doing so, you might miss and important warning sign or alternative route that will take you to a much better place. Taking a vacation – even if it is sunning in your backyard for a week – will slow down the sensory input, free up your mind for some creative thoughts, and allow you to reflect on the big picture. Vacations are not just a luxury – vacations are a necessity.
