Making the Most of Time Off – TPW383

Just because we are away from our work doesn't mean we aren't still thinking about it. In this week's episode, we consider how to relax and recharge without guilt. Our productivity benefits when we learn to relax and make the most of our time off As you know, I took the month of January off from publishing new episodes of the podcast--a first since this podcast launched in 2014! And as I record this episode, I’m actually a few hundred miles from home, spending two weeks at a writing retreat with 4 other women at a house near the beach in Florida. Both of these were breaks from my usual routine, much-needed opportunities to rest, reflect, and regroup. Yet I struggled with and during both of these times. I noticed myself feeling guilty for not working and producing!  I think a lot of us in this community can relate--we want to be productive, in the sense of getting things done and making a life that matters. And that’s a good thing. But it can lead us to feel like if we’re not doing something, we’re wasting time.  I thought this was a good time to think about how we can make the most of those breaks in our routine--or even just our normal days off from work. It requires a mindset shift about what it means to be productive Are rest and downtime productive? There’s plenty of evidence out there for the concept that nobody can go-go-go all the time, that our bodies and minds need a break from focused work. Whether our work is for our job or career or for a side hustle or managing our homes or whatever, I truly believe that rest and time away from work is an essential component of a productive life. On my drive to Florida for the retreat, I started listening to Chris Bailey’s book Hyperfocus. The book is about the importance of focusing deeply on what we’re doing. But interestingly he spends a lot of time talking about the opposite--how much we need unfocused time in order to process thoughts, make connections between ideas, and come up with creative thoughts and solutions. We think of daydreaming as wasted time, but based on extensive research, including interviews with experts, Bailey notes that “daydreaming is immensely potent when our intention is to solve problems, think more creatively, brainstorm new ideas, or recharge. As far as boosting our creativity is concerned, mind wandering is in a league of its own.” As Bailey discusses in the book, time off from focused work is essential to maintain our productivity.  He reminds us: "As our mental energy steadily depletes throughout the day, so too does our ability to focus. Recharging is critical and worth the time investment. . . . The better rested we are, the more productive we become" and goes on to say, "In fact, taking a break is one of the most productive things you can do. . . . [Y]our brain has a limited pool of energy, and once that reserve is depleted, so too are your focus and productivity. Breaks not only allow you to recharge—they prevent you from hitting a wall.” Give yourself permission to take time off Nobody’s going to do that for you, and you don’t need anyone else’s permission anyway.  Recognizing how valuable downtime is should make this a little easier. It’s good for you! And that makes it good for the other people in your life: family, employer, clients, and more. Leverage your productivity skills Have a plan for your free time. I know if I don’t have a plan of some sort, I’ll end up vegging in front of the TV, and then I really feel like I’ve wasted my time! Have an objective: restoration, rejuvenation, laughter . . . ask yourself, "What do I want to get out of this day (or hour) off?" In an article on Self.com titled