Happy Labor Day everyone! Hope you’re enjoying the day OFF today and taking some time out for yourself to relax – which is what this article is about.
It’s important to take time out for yourself even on short weeks where you have holidays – because often those days are filled with friends, family, and activities that leave you feeling like you need another day off!
Short weeks can also make you feel like you need to cram a 5 day week into your shorter week adding stress. If this is the case for you, it’s even more important to take time for yourself to prevent burn-out.
Here are My Five Tips for Taking Time-Outs!
- Get people/family out of the house so you can have some alone time. Whether it’s after work, after school, or the weekend, kick everybody out so you can have at least a 30 minute breather.
- Go for a walk. Labor Laws allow 15 minute breaks every 4 hours. Go for a 15 minute walk to clear your head and burn some extra calories. This helps improve my productivity and efficiency every time.
- Lunch break! Consider going to lunch with a friend for an added boost of positivity. OR maybe you need some time alone to sort out your schedule or your goals. Physically stepping away from the office to have lunch can help you detach mentally from work also and help you feel more positive and productive upon your return.
- Read a book or a magazine, hand write in a journal, paint, or doodle. GET OFF THE SCREENS! With the demand for computers at work and the convenience of information on our cell phones and iPads at our fingertips, we’re averaging more than 12 hours a day in front of screens. Let’s give our brains a break and look away from the screen.
- Volunteer – There are literally thousands of organizations whose mission is to make the world a better place and they are ALWAYS looking for hands on deck to help with tasks from everyday operations to PR. There’s always something you can do without the pressure of being graded on your performance and the fulfillment of making an impact and a difference. A lot of nonprofits are just happy to have the extra help. You can Google “Volunteer, the location, and topic of interest” and you’ll find something fun and fulfilling.
Hopefully you found these Tips for Time-Outs helpful and encouraging. The days and the weeks are full of activity and it is important to take care of yourself and give your brain a break.
Enjoy the short week and your Labor Day!
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