Hey, it’s me, Julie. Wife, Mother, Friend, Internet Marketing Specialist, Small Business Owner….My life is intertwined. A little bit of everything every day. Some office days, some days doing both – running my house and “working” and other days just focused on the family and friends. I love to learn – so most days while I am working out, folding laundry, working in my kitchen I will listen to a podcast or something to give me something to think about.
Recently, I have struggling with finding a way to take a break or mentally checkout and unwind. Like everyone else in society, I feel plugged in all the time. As I was browsing Facebook one day, checking on client’s social media efforts I ran across an article from Wall Street Journal.
A Success Story In Spite of a 2 Year Break
This article by the Wall Street Journal struck a cord with me. It is about Deanna Mulligan, a successful woman in the insurance industry, who took a two year break from employment. She took the time to unwind and do some soul searching in a sense. The first year she didn’t think about work or her future employment options. In the second year, she seriously considered what direction she wanted to go with her career. In the end, she loved the work she was doing in the insurance industry, so she headed back. Today, she is the CEO of Guardian Life Insurance.
The article is a great reminder that it is ‘ok’ to take a step back and put your life in perspective. I know for myself, it is overwhelming and intimidating to think of stepping back. The progress already made and effort you put in feels like it would be wasted. But a break could bring new motivation, better direction and refreshed drive to achieve new goals.
Take a Break During Your Day, Plan Your Day According to Energy Levels
While taking a two year break might not be in your cards, this podcast from Tony Robbins may help you determine when you can take a break in your everyday life. I listened to this while folding Mt. Laundry, in the end, it provided a break for me. I learned something new, reaffirmed a trick I use from time to time and gave me insight to planning my day.
About 14 minutes into the podcast, 13:50 to be exact, Daniel Pink talks about a “Nappuccino.” This trick has gotten me through a day or two…Drink a cup of coffee and then take an afternoon nap, no longer than 20 minutes. You will wake up ready to roll without the grumpiness of waking up again. I did not believe in naps, I felt like it was a sign I was lazy, but mostly I woke up crabby. During the school year, I had gotten in the habit of reading books to my preschoolers and drinking coffee, this instantly puts me in nap mode. With the coffee, I never napped long, but felt great when I woke up. After a few weeks of this, I realized that this trick worked for me. While I didn’t nap every day, when I did, the coffee and 20 minute nap did the trick! I now listen to my body, some days I need a nap and other days I can power through!
What works for you?
Take that break – go for a walk, talk to a friend, take a nap – find that activity in the day that will rejuvenate you. And plan your day: In my perfect world, working in the morning and cleaning/running my house in the afternoon would be ideal. My energy levels are higher in the morning than in the afternoon. Also, working out in early afternoon would get me through the next 10 hours of my day!
Time for a break!!
