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Published November 16, 2023
When you are working on something that could take a while, it's easy to get into "I need a break" mode. This also occurs before you start working on something when you're like "I'll take a break before I get going" (of course, the first thing to ask in this instance is what are you taking a break from?). The danger is that sometimes a break turns into a series of consecutive breaks that never want to end. When you are in this cycle, it's extremely hard to get out. Next thing you know, you're delayed significantly or worse.
If you really need one, a small break from time to time is OK. Just keep in mind that you'll need to define what "small" means. It could be as simple as a five minute break and then back to work or something like a night off to have some fun.
When deciding to take a break, make sure that it's something that has meaning to you. For instance, mindlessly watching videos for an hour may seem like fun, but are you going to feel good about yourself when it's over? Here you also risk falling into the YouTube rabbit hole where the intent to watch one video becomes watching twelve. A better idea is to take a moment from what you're doing to do something that will be beneficial in the long term. For instance, instead of watching a cat video, watch something that's educational or motivational instead. If you want a night off, spend it working on your relationship(s) or spending quality time with someone special. Or even take some time to read that book that you're interested in.
The thought is to keep actively working toward your goals, even while "taking a break". It could mean that you have activities that are completely different from what you are working on, but are still able to move you forward, that give you the moment to reset yourself as well. One more thing to consider is that if you need to take a complete mental break, choose exercise insead. We all need more of that. Pull up a short stretching video to follow or just do something physical for 10-15 minutes. Of course, if all else fails, you can always spend five minutes meditating or visualizing the future you want to keep you inspired.
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