Are You Taking a Time-Out?

My sons’ high school has a great tradition: about a month before the end of year exams, the whole class clocks out and goes on retreat to a big old house in the country with several of the teachers. There they eat, play footy, share stories, and generally hang out. Although my initial reaction to the idea was to stress out – “So close to exams? Shouldn’t they be studying?” – in fact, it was a very sensible initiative which enhanced the boys’ confidence, mood, and, very likely, academic outcomes.
The reason is the same reason that, in the academic world, professors can take a full year’s sabbatical – physically removing yourself from work helps you gain a fresh perspective, and can actually make you do your job better when you return. Taking a break lets you replenish yourself emotionally, physically, spiritually and intellectually. A study published in The Journal of Experimental Social Psychology confirms this: researchers found that when workers put physical distance between themselves and a problem – even just walking to another floor or going to get a glass of water – their anxiety levels dropped and the odds of them solving a problem doubled.
Of course, most of us can’t spend 12 months in Lake Como recharging our batteries (I wish …), but we can be mindful about consciously disconnecting from everyday life at appropriate times. For example, insist that at least Sundays are free from work-related activities, such as checking emails. Setting and honouring that boundary carves out much-needed time to reset your intentions for the week; plus, it sends a strong message to your subconscious that you are deserving of this safe, quiet space in which to think, rest, and play.
From a newsleeter from Pamela Allardice