College students have always been adept at minimizing the pressure of everyday life by shaking things up and redefining how workdays look and feel. There’s no reason the rest of us can’t benefit from a little change of routine as well.
Even when your day looks busy from start to finish , you can create little, rest breaks. With just a few time outs you’ll see that you can get a lot done while remaining calm and relaxed. Start with these three suggestions.
1. Take a quick bath . We all know that lengthy baths are a great way to end a day, but does a bath in the midst of the day offer any benefit ? You bet. The major difference is that the mid-day bath should befewer than eight miutes in duration and as hot as possible. The increase in body temperature will heighten your focus .
2. Go for a short walk with a friend or colleague. It doesn’t take a college professor to recognize the benefits of a cardio-boosting walk a few hours a week. We’re now talking about something different however. Walking with a friend or co-worker provides a kind of “social break” that will help youfeel connected and boost your spirits. Be certain that your conversation is positive in nature, and does not include subjects that may be unpleasant or stressful .
3. Focus on a nearby object for between 90 seconds and two minutes . The nature of the object is not important …a rug, a lamp, a paper weight , or even a chair or a table . Observe as much as possible about the object and let nothing else enter your mind. This type of intense concentration will redouble your focus when you turn back to your work .
Of course, a good night’s sleep is critical, but short breaks can be almost as helpful to you. If you think about it, you’ll discover numerous ways, aside from those above, to take brief breaks that will increase your ability to be productive.
