Avoiding a Day Off Because of What Happens on the Other End?
Do these thoughts come into your head when you start thinking about taking a break or vacation?
I’m just going to be overwhelmed with work when I get back.
When I return, I’m going to be struggling to keep up.
If I don’t take the break or vacation, I can’t get overwhelmed because I’m not falling behind.
If so, we’re going to talk about this today. A lot of my professor clients are part of the “Overworking Club,” as I call it. And I know, because I spent a lot of time in that club. Now that I know on the other end how to deal with it, I am helping others. I've got three tips for you about how to solve this issue in your life and to take the days off and the vacation that you want.
List out why you want to take a break
Simple as that. On a piece of paper, list out why you want to take a break. By writing it on paper, we are making it very concrete for your brain. Tell me what you would do with five hours in a row in your week for yourself. Not for work, not email, not even family responsibilities. For whatever you want to do.
What would it be? What would you do? And how would you feel during that time?
That is what is going to give you energy. That is what is going to re-energize you.
Whatever it is you want to do, write it down.
Define what the break actually means
It is so easy to replace work with work.
For example, you take a day off from work and being away from your computer, and then you transfer that energy into housework, like folding the laundry.
The break we are talking about here isn’t a new to-do list at home. So when we define what the break actually is, we’re telling our brain that what we’re supposed to do is *insert your ideal break or vacation here.* And then we’re not going to feel guilty on the other end of it. Which leads us to the third step…
Corral your brain on the other end of the break
This is the part that drives you crazy. Your brain will say, after a break, you know, we really should have been in our email. Or we could have totally gotten more work done.
But instead of believing those thoughts, you’re going to remind your brain why you were taking your break and what you were supposed to do (basically, not work).
And when you remind your brain that you feel better after the break and more energized, then your brain realizes that yes, the break was actually good for you. You have more energy, you took time for yourself, and you don’t feel all of the overwhelm and anxiety during the break.
These three tips will change how you approach taking breaks and help you to wrap your mind around the mindset issues that you have with taking one.
I would love to know what you're going to do with your break and how you're going to spend it and how you're going to feel on the other end. Send me a message and tell me the details because it's going to be amazing and you deserve it!
