Why taking a break makes you more successful

July 21, 2021

Burn out. Lack of motivation. Lack of creativity. Questioning everything. We have all felt this way at some point or another.

So how can taking a break and putting a brief pause on life actually make you more successful?

Taking a break lets you refocus your energy.

Taking a break allows you to reconnect with yourself.

Taking a break helps you reflect & realign your priorities.

YOU ARE YOUR BIGGEST INVESTMENT

In order to grow into the person that you want to be, in order to acquire the skills to achieve your goals, you have to invest in yourself. However, there are many ways to invest in yourself that go beyond spending money on schooling or a new work outfit.

Taking a break is investing in yourself

About one year ago, I came across a quote that stopped me in my tracks. You know when you read something and it automatically resonates with you? This quote did that for me and I will remember it for the rest of my life:

“If you don’t make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness. Read that again.”

No matter how hungry you are for success and how much work you are putting into your goals, taking a break is also an essential part of that journey to success.

The rise of “hustle culture” has made it appear as though the only way to make it to the top is to grind all day, all night, 24/7, no days off. And yes, there are certainly people out there who commit to this type of lifestyle – but what is the point of “making it” by hustling if, at the end of the day, your health and relationships are at risk?

 Do you want to live your dream life or do you want to live a healthy and happy dream life?

Unfortunately, the hustle culture creates many toxic traits in people. I will admit that at one point, I also believed that if I worked non-stop, I would become successful at a young age and be able to enjoy life after that. But the truth is, it’s not as amazing as they make it out to be.

Hustle culture involves putting both your emotional and physical health at risk. It involves early mornings and late nights, with little time to focus on eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep. Hustle culture also puts a massive strain on relationships. Suddenly, you no longer have time for friends and family, causing those relationships to weaken.

In saying that, hustle culture isn’t to be confused with working hard. As long as you strive to have balance in your life, you can absolutely do early mornings and late nights, all while focusing on maintaining your physical and emotional health too.

Have you ever noticed that when you take an impromptu afternoon off or you have a late start to your work day, you just feel so much more refreshed and motivated later that day or the following day? 

So what doest asking a break look like?

I think the more important question to ask yourself is what does a break look like to you? What would a good break from your routine involve?

For me, a break almost always involves the outdoors. When it comes to work, for both my 9-5 and my side jobs, I sit in front of screens. A true meaningful break for me is to be away from screens completely. I love to go for long walks, hikes, make trips to the beach or even simply sit in the sun. 

If you’re like me and work on screens, this kind of break might be perfect for you.

If you’re someone who is on their feet all day, a mini spa day or a day on the couch might be your ideal getaway. 

I am someone who isn’t naturally creative. I struggle with it and wow does it ever bother me. After realizing that there was a pattern - my creativity wave went up and then it went down and repeat, I realized that ideas come to me when I am relaxed and not trying to force them. Therefore, taking a break literally does make me more successful because my creativity is in flow!

Take time off when you feel like you need it, not when you plan to.

Too often I hear my friends saying that they’ll give themselves a break next year or during the summer, they will go on that road trip. If you feel like you need that break right now, you are so much better off taking it and be able to keep going in a strong and healthy way. Between taking the time off now and taking the time off when you plan to in the future, you will benefit so much more from a break sooner because it will make you more productive, and most importantly, will make you happier.

Now, if there is one thing that I want you to take away from this blog post today, its TAKE YOUR VACATION DAYS.

Who else struggles and feels guilty asking for time off from work? Who else feels awkward using up their vacation days instead of being at work? I know that I am so guilty of that. You want to show your employer that you are dedicated and putting in the work, right?

Truth is, those vacation days are there for a reason. We are NOT meant to spend every single day of our adult lives working. We are all entitled to our vacation days and it’s a shame to let them go to waste year after year!

Think of it this way, at the end of the day, taking a break when you need it will make you a better employee, it will make you a better partner, and it will make you a better you. 

Below is a YouTube video I made on this exact topic after taking a nice “break” and escaping to Vancouver Island last summer:

So moral of the blog post – TAKE A BREAK!

Know yourself, know your body & until next time!

Mags

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