TIME’S UP!

Taking some time for yourself by taking breaks, especially breaks from technology, can help to boost productivity and overall time management. Some of the things that will have the biggest impact on your performance and productivity are the things you do outside the office. So, make sure to spend some “me time,” stepping away from everyday demands to focus on individualized, self-care breaks to relax, refresh, & recharge!

Taking breaks can help sharpen your mind. When you have a packed to-do list, and busy work schedules and tasks, taking breaks can start to feel out of reach and like a luxury, but they are actually so beneficial and necessary. Research from Harvard University states that when you allow your brain to rest, it begins using the Default Mode Network. This ‘Network’ can boost creativity and help you link ideas, retrieve memories, and become more self-connected. But how do we use our individualized break time effectively? 

What should your break time look like? The answer depends on what sorts of activities you find soothing or energy boosting. Take a moment to think about when you feel most relaxed or even excited. “Me time” is just that: for you personally. It does not have to seem appealing to anyone else.

Furthermore, one of the most important ways for us to take breaks is to take “screen time” or technology breaks. In this technology-driven world we live in, it can seem very hard to get a break from screen time. Some research suggests that too much screen time can have negative effects on multiple areas of our health, like our sleep hygiene and our vision. So, it is recommended to aid in relaxing, recharging, & refreshing, to unplug-- literally. At least once a day, even if just for half an hour, set aside your computer, tablet, phone, and headphones and find a quiet place to connect with yourself for some much needed, device-free, “me time.”

Here are some ideas for finding that tech-free space:

· Stretch

· Exercise

· Keep a gratitude journal

· Go on a tech-free walk and take time to observe your surroundings

· Take a relaxing bath or shower

· Meditation--try guided meditation using a recording

· Draw or write for pleasure

· Play music

· Reading a physical book (not on an electric device)

· Take a nap

· Daydream (especially about something fun or playful)

· Light a candle or use an essential oil diffuser to sit and just be