Do you want to be productive? Of course, you do. Here is something you may resist; taking a break is productive.
I know your inner critic is saying, “No, no, it’s not, keep working”. But it’s true and it’s science.
Consider the Yerkes-Dodson Stress Performance Curve. Don’t be confused, the picture attached to this post is just a drawing of a bell-shaped curve, not the Yerkes-Dodson Performance Curve.
Moving left to right, let’s say the start of the curve is when you have energy, you feel calm, but you aren’t engaged. You might even be bored.
Let’s say optimal is at the top of the curve. This is when you are engaged, in the flow, energized-you feel good.
Then let’s say we move further to the right of this bell curve and we experience a shift. This shift starts with you feel fatigued.
Shifting further to the right you may experience…..anxiety, exhaustion, anger, panic…..and then burnout….even leading to poor health both mentally and physically.
So let’s rewind. Let’s go back to the top of the curve. You are in the flow. And then you start getting tired.
PAUSE.
You have a decision to make. You can incorporate science.
You can take a break. Get up, go for a walk, drink some water, stretch, go outside. Go to bed early.
Benefits? Gaining a different perspective, energy boost, reduces your stress, increases your motivation, improves your health, gets you back into a state where being in the flow is possible again.
Taking a break is critical to you being able to deliver your best results.
