Whether you call it a break, a breather, a siesta or a time-out…its purpose is restoration. Rest isn’t a luxury – it’s necessary – especially if you’re experiencing difficulty concentrating, thinking clearly or remembering things. Taking a break can be revitalizing–like the old engrained “coffee breaks” of the work force – it allows just enough time to step away from the task at hand and break that concentration of work. Comparable to how athletes regularly take a break from their grueling routines and how our heart takes a rest between beats – we can’t expect our mind and bodies to go non-stop!
In many countries, like Spain and Italy, and in some forward thinking work places – napping is an accepted practice. Be it a cat nap, power nap or forty winks – these short naps are intended to quickly revitalize, leaving you ready to tackle the rest of the day. For the rest of us 9-to-5ers in today’s fast paced work force, here are a couple of good pick-me-up techniques (no caffeine needed!).
Breathing – concentrating on a good deep breath in and then letting it out can be very relaxing and calming. This exercise is the foundation of basic meditation – putting you in touch with your inner self (and it doesn’t require sitting cross legged under your desk!)
Peace and Quiet – if the noises around you are becoming distractive and disruptive, you can bring back your focus with quiet. While sitting still, eyes closed, try to listen beyond the din of those annoying sounds around you and search for that inner slice of silence. (Pretend you’re wearing earmuffs that buffer out the noises!)
“Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o’clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap.” Barbara Jordan
