When my son was younger, in order to factor in a required eight-hour workday and long commutes in Atlanta traffic each morning and evening, I would work straight through lunch. In his earlier school years, I would drop him off at school at 7:00 a.m. and leave the office at 4:30 p.m. for my long commute back – to ensure I made his 6:00 p.m. pick up time. When he first became a latchkey kid, I maintained the same hours, because I didn’t want him to be home alone for very long in the evening. Fast forward – he’s now a high school senior with a deep voice and hair on his face, getting ready to graduate and pretty much independent. Yet, Mom is still maintaining the same habit of working eight hours straight each day without taking a break. By my calculations, I’ve been going at it this way for over 10 years.
Burnout
In very recent years, I’ve noticed signs of burnout. I thought it was because I was becoming bored with my job as a legal assistant. Or that maybe it was time for a workplace change – after all, I’ve been with the same law firm for years, having left and returned three times since 1991. Lack of concentration, easily distracted, lack of energy, the development of digestive problems, weight gain, stiff joints, etc. It goes without saying that many of these things can be attributed to getting older and as a 50+ year old woman, the “M” word…but…
For ten years, outside of a few short walks around the office, I’ve been sitting in a cubicle at my computer for 8 hours, 5 days a week. I’ve been eating my lunch at my desk – while working. Taking work requests, reading emails, answering phone calls, etc. in between bites. Just thinking about it makes me weary. No wonder I feel the way I feel!
Taking a Break
I began to change my schedule to factor in, at the very least, a 30-minute break/lunch hour. It has made all the difference in the world! Going to the break room, outside in the sunshine or sitting in the atrium of my office building to eat lunch has also made a difference. I’m more present in the moment, enjoying and savoring my food, feeling refreshed when I return to my desk. Or, I put on my socks and sneakers and take a brisk stroll around the building (around the building lobby if it’s raining) for some incremental exercise.
The Benefits of Taking Five
There are soooo many benefits in breaking the day in half – or even quarters – taking 15, 3o and/or 60 minute breaks has physical and mental benefits. A Forbes magazine article entitled, “New Study Shows Correlation Between Employee Engagement and the Long-Lost Lunch Break” says “chaining yourself to a desk or scarfing down your lunch in your cubicle isn’t a recipe for success – it’s a recipe for disaster.”The article also details the benefits of taking a break:
1. Boosts productivity
2. Improves mental well-being
3. Allows time for fresh perspective on your projects
4. Time to eat a healthy lunch, exercise, meditate or engage in self-care
Employers Can Help
Employers sometimes encourage this “hard drive” behavior and should be encouraging employees to take breaks instead. “Nearly 20% of North American workers worry their bosses won’t think they are hardworking if they take regular lunch breaks, while 13% worry their co-workers will judge them.” Sounds ridiculous when you read it, right? But it’s true – At times, employees may feel as if they can’t leave their desk, cubicle or office to take a break because of their workload or a demanding boss, or like me, it just becomes a habit. Some employees just need to be told that they can and should take a break…even though employees should know that, sometimes they just need to hear that it’s okay!
I believe we shouldn’t be doing anything for eight hours or more straight without taking a break, even things we enjoy! I really could go on and on about this subject, but I encourage you to read the article by clicking on the linked title above for more backed-by-research and helpful information. The bottom line is…allow yourself to take a breather, as many as you need, and you’ll be happier, healthier and more productive. It’s all in the name of self-care! Wooosahhhh!
It’s my life’s mission to live a minimalist and simple existence, and I think I’m halfway there and holding! Clean, neat, uncluttered spaces with room for lots of air to circulate puts me in my best zone. A quote by Karen Kingston, author and decluttering guru solidifies my philosophy: “Every aspect of your life is anchored energetically in your living space, so clearing clutter can completely transform your entire existence.” #frfr!
Donate those items to an organization of your choice, i.e. a shelter for domestic violence victims. Give your career wear to a program that assists homeless women get into the workforce. Those evening gowns and formal attire? Donate them to The Enchanted Closet, or similar organization, that collects these items for teen girls to wear to proms. There are many worthy causes out there – imagine the smile on the face of a girl or woman who receives your donated items. Heartwarming! Of course, you could also sell them on consignment or on one of those online selling platforms like ThredUp, Offer Up, Ebay, etc. to make a few extra bucks – you know – to buy the smaller clothes you’ll need when you lose weight (wink!).
