Annual leave and downtime is imperative! Your health and productivity are on the line if you don’t rest frequently enough, and on a regular basis. One big break every year will simply not cut it. Your brain needs regular breaks to perform at its optimal level, so please take that annual leave owed to you.
See your brain like a sponge – It can only soak up so much at a time before it needs to dry up and start over again. Much like a sponge, your brain needs that rest time too. Research has found that taking breaks can improve your mood, boost your performance, and increase your ability to concentrate.
By emptying your mind and allowing it to just be, without having to worry about your next task at hand, is elevating. It will allow your thinking juices and creativity to thrive. Many employees don’t take full advantage of their annual leave, due to “work obligations”, which is a concern for businesses, both large and small. As a Workspace that encourage a “work life balance”, we encourage you to make use of your annual leave, ideally during quieter times.
Being constantly busy can become like an addiction, as it’s how many of us define who we are. When we’re left with an empty plate, we’re not sure what to do with all that additional time. Remember that taking a break doesn’t mean your brain has totally checked out, as some areas of the brain get even more active when we aren’t focused on work. This area of the brain is called default mode network (DMN) which allows our minds to wander and focus inward, which links to things, such as ethics, morals, memories etc. This is so important to bring meaning to your life and those around you.
Let’s not confuse “downtime” with “leisure time.” Watching TV, reading a book, catching up with a friend are all lovely ways to spend your free time. But they’re not true “downtime”, in the mind-wandering sense. Nope, scrolling through social media or playing a game doesn’t count either, as your mind is still required to process information. To activate DMN, we need to do less. Yip that’s it – simply do less. Whether that’s a walk in nature, mowing the lawn or sweeping your pool, find that downtime activity that allows your mind to turn off and go into a “Zen” mode. This festive season is the perfect time to get started!
How can you plan your downtime when back at work in 2022?
- Schedule downtime – Schedule evenings off at least one day a week to just be, and take advantage of that annual leave, whether it’s one long vacation or several shorter ones throughout the year.
- Ad hoc downtime – Feeling stuck or tired? Take a 10 minute recess – Grab a coffee, go for a walk or simply sit down in nature.
- Turn of your phone – Constant interconnectedness is a stress-trigger in itself.
- Free up that sponge (brain) – Keep a list of things that need to be done to free up mental space which enables worry-free time.
- Create rituals and routine – To signal to your mind that it’s time to start work, leave work, meditate or socialize.
We look forward to seeing the “new Zen you” in 2022! For more info on our office solutions, click here.
