In “The
Productivity Project” Chris Bailey claims people get more work done when they
take regular breaks, and relax. It may sound counterintuitive, but I’ve
realized it’s true!
In college
my “work day” went two ways:
Year 2007: I
have a test in two weeks. It’s a Biology test. Science is my least favorite subject;
I only took it because I needed it to graduate. After class I go to my dorm, and
log onto eonline.com. I find out Justin Timberlake is dating Jessica Biel. Then
I Google 7th Heaven because I vaguely remembered Jessica being on
that show. Then for some unconnected reason I Google Adam Brody…
Two hours
later, I glance up from my laptop to find it’s already 12 pm! I’m hungry, and
lethargic from Internet browsing. I
haven’t started my Stats homework (due tomorrow) yet, but I did find out Leo
and Kate were reuniting for “Revolutionary Road”. Then I walk two minutes from
my dorm to the Student Union Building. I order fries and soda with my Student ID/
credit card. I contemplate calling my friend to see if she was going to Wing
Night at Cuddy’s. Deep down, I knew I shouldn’t be going out on a Monday
(especially since I was lagging in Stats), but somehow I still manage to dial
her number….
2007 Midterms:
I got a C on my Stats Midterm! I owed my C to my 7 hour cram the night before.
My eyes were bloodshot as I walked into van den Berg Hall that day for
midterms. I wished I had completed my assignments on time; I wished I paid more
attention in class.
I dropped my
Biology class because it was at 8 in the morning, and that was too early for me
in college. I woke up every morning at 6 for high school, but waking up at 7 in
college took WAY more effort. Also, I never studied for the first Biology test,
which was another reason why I dropped the course…
During the
first part of college I usually crammed the night before or didn’t study at all,
resulting in lower grades. My last year
was MUCH better. I was able to study consistently, and work at my internship.
After
college I made more changes. I began meditating daily, and working smarter (not
harder). I started typing this paragraph after I took a break. My mind was
telling me: I’m tired. When I’m tired I listen to my body and take a break.
Over the years I realized it’s perfectly ok that I’m not Wonder Woman, and that
it’s ok to consistently recharge :). I closed my eyes and relaxed my body. I didn’t
look at the clock. When I felt recharged, I stretched and began typing again.
When I take regular breaks, my mood is great! I’m also able to get more work
done.
In “The
Productivity Project” the author states that studies show the optimal work
hours are between 35 to 40 hours a week. That may seem low to some people, but
the author claims working “less” hours decreases burnout, and increases
productivity! When the author worked less hours, he focused his time into those
shorter hours, and took adequate breaks so he could recharge. I realize that a
35-40 hour work week may not be realistic to people who are working 2 jobs 60+
hours a week. But I found that taking breaks (even 10 minute ones) helps.
Breaks help “un-fry” our brains, and our bodies if we’re performing manual
labor.
Another way
to relax is to develop a positive mindset. Now, when I work, I never think of
the “worst possible scenario”. I focus on what I want, instead of what I don’t
want. I’m a firm believer in Law of Attraction (you get what you focus on).
Positive thinking also helps maintain a good mood. It’s a win-win situation. It
took me a while to overcome my former negative thinking patterns. As a teenager
I suffered from severe depression. In college I felt better, but was still
anxious.
Now I
appreciate sunsets. They’ve been there my whole life, yet I rarely took the
time to enjoy them. I love taking walks around my neighborhood, and seeing
people walk their “Barkleys” on leashes. (There’s a lot of giant furry dogs in
my neighborhood.) Since it’s hot now, I save my walks for evenings when everything
is dark blue and cooler. I mainly listen to rap music or N SYNC when I walk. I’ve
enjoyed those types of music since I was a teenager. Some things never change :)
I was in
Pawling last Monday for a radio show. I listened to a meditation tape before the
show, and after the show I drove to a grocery store, got food, and parked in
the parking lot. It was around 7:30 pm. I closed my eyes, thought pleasant
thoughts, and basked. I wasn’t thinking of the meal I was going to prepare
(ramen noodles :), or worrying about the future. I was just living in the
present. Living in the present is the greatest gift ever! There’s a
best-selling book by Spencer Johnson called “The Present” that illustrates
this. If I constantly thought of my past, I would be miserable. I’ve put the
past away, and learned to enjoy the present. Outside my window there’s usually a
pleasant hum during the summer months. After a while, I realized it was cicadas
singing; they’re different from bird chirps, but equally enjoyable. Two days
ago I found white flowers growing from shrubs. I took time to pause and admire
the flowers. Last night, after my work day, I went to the library where my
friend was screening an eye-opening “mindful movie”. Afterwards, I sat in the
library parking lot for a few minutes, just basking, before driving off into
the cool night.
It took me a
long time to get here, yet I wouldn’t take anything back. Every single
traumatic struggle has made me appreciate everything more. I remembered sobbing
in bed as a teenager, wishing the ceiling would collapse. I know if I can find
happiness, then so can anyone. My book: Fall and Rise: My Journey to Happiness
is on Amazon. Please enjoy!
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