Do you often marvel at the energy of a person who seems to be a real go-getter with an innate ability to juggle multiple demanding life roles and a busy social life with ease? Whatever comes their way they just seem to get it done amidst an ever-growing list of responsibilities. If that reminds you of someone you know, I’m about to blow their cover. (If that someone is you, my apologies.) The truth is, they are either hiding the fact that they are running on fumes and exhausted or they are fortunate enough to have put into practice a life lesson that most of us don’t realize the true importance of. Often, it’s a little of both. The valuable life lesson is one we can actually learn from a child.
Children know the importance of rest and play. They take breaks when they’re tired and indulge in activities purely for enjoyment. Studies show the balance of rest and play is vital for maintaining energy, increasing creativity and productivity, renewing focus, and lowering stress. I find it interesting that as adults we need validation from research and studies to convince us of something we knew naturally, as children. So before another day of hurriedly drinking our morning coffee while scrolling through emails, it would serve us well to take a step back and relearn.
I too have been guilty of forgetting to slow down and had the good fortune of re-learning from my daughter who at the time was 11 years old. It seemed to come “out of nowhere” when she one day suggested that I take the day off, eat cereal in bed and watch cartoons! I was a bit surprised and admittedly amused but it truly was a wake up call that encouraged me to think outside of the box (no pun intended). And, although I have yet to actually “eat cereal in bed and watch cartoons,” it is among some of the soundest advice I’ve ever received. It has stayed with me all these years and I use it as a reminder to step back and chill. As adults, we often get caught up in worries about the past or future or the “urgent” tasks at hand. I didn’t even realize the routine of perpetual motion I was in, but she did. Our kids are watching us. They are natural masters of self-care, and as adults, we can learn a lot by observing their natural ability to prioritize well-being.
What about you? If you were to reach into your mailbox and pull out an “invitation to rest” would you accept, or would you simply toss it aside thinking, ”I don’t have time for this”? Taking a break is not a sign of weakness, it’s a strength. It allows us to pause and be present. This mindfulness can extend to other aspects of life, helping us to make more conscious choices about how we spend our time. Sometimes it’s just necessary to “check out” mentally in order to regroup. Our bodies and minds have limits. Ignoring those limits can lead to burnout and stress. A break is like a reset button, giving us the energy and clarity to tackle our tasks with renewed vigor.
For me, the concept of taking breaks throughout the day isn’t new, but intentionally scheduling those breaks is. I recently learned the importance of being intentional about scheduled break time (10-15 minutes) from one of my mentors. In the past, if I had a blank space, I would fill it with a task, not downtime. I’m more of a “go with the flow” kind of person so schedules in general are hard for me to get used to. I’ve found outlining my day, either the night before or in the morning, is extremely helpful and now that I schedule breaks, it’s even better.
Life isn’t just about checking off tasks on a to-do list, so take a look at the list below and see what you might schedule into your day. The first set is more adult in nature followed by some whimsical kidstuff for when the mood strikes!
- Get up and move
- Drink water and have some brain food like nuts, blueberry, avocado, or dark chocolate
- Practice mindful breathing
- Stretch (do what you know you can do), perhaps lunges, stretching your hamstrings,or rolling your neck gently from side to side
- Rest your eyes, especially if you stare at screens all day
Revisit some of your childhood pastimes and allow yourself to be a kid again, if even for a moment…
- Build a pillow fort
- Roll down a grassy hill – I once did this with a group of children while chaperoning a 5th grade field trip. I was not invited back to chaperone but we had fun 🙂
- Get lost in a fun puzzle
- Run through the sprinkler
- Watch cartoons and eat cereal in bed
What would you add to this list? Do you have any that you are already doing? If so, please share!
