This is a part of the series of posts that tie back to the 11 Life Lessons I Learned From Running.
I only run three days a week, which gives me plenty of time to recover.
Likewise, I have to take breaks and vacations between projects (or during long ones) so that I don’t get burnt out.
It’s easy to keep rushing from one project to the next. There is always more to do, another item on the todo list, or some emergency to take care of. The key is to realize that you can’t always do everything, and that you need to be well-rested to stay focused. Choose which projects/tasks are most useful to your overall goals (perhaps the ones on your Life List or your Action Plan) and drop the ones that do not help move you toward those goals.
This freeing up of time will allow you take necessary breaks. You need to recover, to re-energize, and to be able to focus. Take the time to do what you need to in order to work at your greatest potential.
Time is the great equalizer; no matter who you are or how much money you have, you have 24 hours in a day. Sometimes the best use of them is for a break!
so true. I big on planning and creating extensive “to do” lists…and it’s hard to just shut down your brain sometimes and just relax and take some time for yourself.
if only we had a reminder or an alarm clock that went off every time we really needed a break…because like you said, it’s easy to go from one project directly to the next.
I’ve created a system for organizing my todo lists: I keep a folded piece of paper in my back pocket, so I can jot down any ideas that come to mind. I keep a “master todo” list in my planner, so I can transfer any important ideas over to that list, and redo it once a week, removing any tasks that aren’t important or that have been completed. My list has stayed manageable, and my mind stays clutter free.
I haven’t quite figured out a foolproof way to force myself to take a break in between projects, because I still mess this one up. My todo list helps acts as my reminder. As I mark off one completed project, I have a few moments to pause while I decide what to do next. Sometimes I remember to take a break, sometimes not. Perhaps I need to include “break” on my list!