We can get so busy in the hustle and bustle of life that we forget to replenish our energy. We would never let our mobile phone battery go flat – we’d plug it in to recharge straight away. So why do we sometimes forget to recharge ourselves? To lead a healthy lifestyle, we have to take a break from time to time.
The International Authority for Professional Coaching & Mentoring is the leading accreditation authority for professional coaches. Here, one of their accredited coaches, Ruby McGuire, offers up 5 reasons to take a break.
1. Fresh Perspective
The best time to come up with new ideas is when we take time away from our normal routines. We might be brushing our teeth or walking the dog when we get that ‘light bulb’ moment. Neuroscience has proven that certain parts of the brain are activated when we stop focusing on tasks, this ‘default’ network is fired up when we’re day dreaming, sitting in silence, meditating or visualising.
2. Reflection
This allows you to figure out what’s really working for you and what needs to change. You’ll gain more control over your life because you have taken the time to stop and rethink things through and you’ll recognise the areas you need to celebrate. Taking action is one thing, but you need to stop and celebrate your achievements before moving onto the next thing. It doesn’t matter how small the step, be proud of yourself and celebrate!
3. Burnout free
We often adopt self-care routines when it’s too late to do anything about it. We all hit a point where we need some ‘me’ time and throw in some coping strategies to improve the situation. We must be more proactive than reactive, otherwise we’ll be back to square one. Ruby suggests creating a maintenance plan where self-care becomes part of our every-day life.
4. Missing out on life
When you’re sitting in your comfy chair in your eighties, do you want to look back and wish you’d posted another Instagram picture? Or will you be grateful that you took a break and lived in the moment? It’s easy to forget how fragile life is, and we often try to prove something to ourselves or to others. To get off the hamster wheel, we need to be self-aware of the issues at hand and aim to be more physically present in the moment instead of worrying what others think or do.
5. Good for your health
Physical, mental and emotional well-being are all vital to a healthy balanced lifestyle. We often put off looking after ourselves because it isn’t a priority. Through making healthier choices and taking regular breaks we can look after our bodies and our minds to reduce stress and the pressures of daily life.
