Take a Break: How Rest Leads to Productivity

The “you can sleep when you are dead” mentality seems to rule over this generation's youth. For a day to meet society’s high standards of productivity, it has to be filled with work from sunup till sundown. If you are not in class, you have to do homework, or clean your apartment, or run errands, or work out. No minute can go unfilled. After all, rest is for lazy people. Or is it? As it turns out, rest is one of the easiest ways to increase productivity. Rest and work are not opposites- they actually go hand in hand. 

Image Courtesy: Martha Stewart

Working nonstop at full speed for long periods is not only damaging to your wellbeing, but it is not sustainable. The lack of balance in your life will catch up to you. Your body will manifest this lack of rest in irritable moods, mental and physical exhaustion, and lack of focus. Ironically, the symptoms of overworking yourself are exactly what will keep you from being able to maintain maximum productivity, further proving the necessity of taking breaks.

Rest does not have to be anything extremely elaborate; just give yourself time for your body to renew its energy, refresh your brain, and regain motivation. These are some of my favorite ways to take a break and rest my body.

1. Going for Walks

Now, this might sound overly simple, but that is the beauty of it. No matter where you are or what you are doing, you will always manage to find a place for a stroll. Walking is a form of exercise that increases blood flow to the brain, stimulating creativity and thinking even during your rest period. It is also a way to keep your mind concentrated on the task of moving your body, removing focus from whatever stressor has consumed your thoughts, and giving your mind rest before returning to that task later on. 

2. Taking Naps

Sleep is, in fact, not for the weak, but for the elite. If you have ever been in a position where you are staring at a blank page trying to write an essay, but you can’t keep your eyes open, don't just power through, take a nap. Your body is begging for it. A quick afternoon shuteye is just what your body needs to reduce drowsiness and increase alertness. Naps around 20 minutes allow REM sleep to be reached and increase creativity as well as physical restoration. While sleeping, the brain filters through the activity and processes your thoughts. So if you are studying for an exam or stressed about a problem in your life, napping will allow your subconscious brain to process your thoughts and engrain them into memory.

3. Meditation

The benefit of resting is that it allows your mind to turn off, and meditation is the perfect way to do that. A quick 10 minute guided meditation is all you need. Listening to a relaxing voice leads you to a body scan or yoga practice and completely detaches you from your day’s tasks. Don’t worry about your grocery list for your shopping trip later or your meeting with your boss at 6 pm. Focus on the here and now, and your body and brain will thank you.

At the end of the day, any way you choose to take a break will increase your productivity. The stigma behind taking breaks is not based on facts. Now you know better. The most productive people are the ones who learn to balance their busy schedule with taking time for themselves.

Strike out,

Writer: Sarah Gibson

Editors: Karina McCarthy and Lexi Fernandez

Tallahassee