Two things I’ve learned from my time spent working from home: 1) Sitting at a desk all day is bad, and 2) Breaks are good.
As much as many of us love our jobs, sitting in one place for hours on end is just not healthy or entirely productive. When I was behind a desk all day in an office, I always felt stir crazy. Now that I’m home I get that feeling just as much, if not more. In my old entry-level office position, I had the sweet freedom of putting everything on hold when the sun went down, ready to pick up again the next day. Now, I’m the only one doing each of my tasks, so whether it’s 3pm or 3am, it’s getting done. In either scenario, we can work in a more efficient (and healthy) way by giving ourselves time to regroup every couple hours (or less).
I’m a firm believer that we all need breaks and to unplug and to get out of the house/office every now and then. Whenever I work for hours on end, I slloooow down at some point. Plus, typing and staring at the screen all day gives me headaches, a tight neck and shoulders, back pain, fatigue… It’s just bad. Being on the computer all day is a very nonphysical job that manifests itself in lots of terrible, physical ways. But is there really time to take frequent breaks? In not wanting to waste time during the workweek, I’ve started tweaking my breaks to get the most out of them (and take the most of them, yay!) so that when I return to my work I can focus again and PRODUCE.
3 Productive Breaks
1. Go on a Walk
It’s one of those things people like to say they do but never actually get to. (Oh, and if you live someplace sunny like LA you really have no excuse!) Fresh air, a few minutes with your own thoughts, deep breaths, and much needed “unplug” time is the fastest way to a refreshed outlook when you come back to work.
Why It’s Productive: Besides being good for your health, it helps you just think. It’s too tempting to ignore how you really feel about something when you’re constantly plugged in. Just thinking things through will breed new ideas, help you come up with solutions to problems, and give you time to reflect.
2. Craft Without the Camera
Ah, it’s so liberating to craft without considering if it will perform best online, without photographing each step, or trying to make a project perfect (even if it didn’t turn out so). IT’S THE BEST. As much as I love sharing my work, it’s nice to do things just for me.
Why It’s Productive: It’s hard to practice when you have your blog on the mind. Taking a break to let the creative juices flow without the pressure is the ultimate way to perfect your craft. You can always go back and share it later, if you want, but don’t let that be your goal every time you create.
3. Meditate
I started getting into meditation when I was on the job hunt. I was pretty stressed out though not super busy, and it’s something I always wanted to try. I learned that I feel a lot better when I give myself anywhere from 5-30 minutes of silence. It’s incredibly difficult for those of us whose brains never shut off, because the goal is to focus on one thing at a time, in the present moment. It’s not to dwell on experiences or make up scenarios, but truly live in the moment as it happens. I’m still a beginner but I appreciate this one moment for me not to stress over my to-do list.
Why It’s Productive: It’s different than simply sitting, like you do when watching TV. It takes focus and persistence and trains your mind to consider the present—something increasingly hard to do. You appreciate the small things, like a single breath or the sound of birds outside your window. It can be done for just a few minutes (I often listen to these guided meditations that range from 3-19 minutes), and even while on the go. If you want, you can meditate while out on a walk. All you have to do is breathe.
If you can think of any other productive breaks, please share! I’d love to know.