Why taking Time Out is Important

The ability to connect from anywhere in the world can mean that we’re always ‘on’. How many times have you found yourself working on a Sunday night because you’ve habitually checked your email? Indeed, ‘work’ these days exists outside the traditional four walls of office space, any time of day, any day of the week, and it’s all too easy to find yourself engaged with it.

Thing is, you know it’s important to take time out. And while it might not seem like much, replying to the odd message here and there when you’re out of the office impacts the quality of your relaxation time by keeping you alert and actively processing. You need to rest - turn off all your work notifications and dial right out. Rest is key to being our most productive selves at work and in life. Nobody functions efficiently on an empty tank, and low batteries mean sluggish output. Time out, where you can get decent rest, truly relax, and feel refreshed, should be a compulsory item on your self-care list.

Give Your Mind A Break

Your brain uses a massive amount of energy concentrating, processing, problem-solving and decision-making. Dial out a bit, and make things like meal planning the biggest decision you make each day. You’ll be amazed at how alert and creative you’ll be after some rest.

Let Your Body Relax

Unfurl yourself from the physical toll of your work life. Maybe you’ve got a physical job, or perhaps you’ve built tension in your body from mental stress or hunching over a desk? Your overall health needs to give your body a chance to rest and restore.

Catch Up On Sleep

Turn your usual morning alarm off, and take guilt-free naps. Sleep regulates our nervous system, allows our body the opportunity to repair itself, and is crucial for mental processing. Schedule in some minimal-commitment time out to allow yourself a lie-in.

Give Stressors The Space To Process

We don’t mean immediate stuff like deadlines or unanswered emails: we’re talking next-level pressures, like career progression, or gnarly stuff like work projects that aren’t planned - maybe even some difficult feedback. These stressors do well from getting parked temporarily: it takes the heat off the issue and allows the way forward to surface organically.

Get A Chance To Try New Things

Whether kitesurfing, rock climbing, or starting a novel, it’s important to carve out time in your schedule to do a little out-of-the-ordinary. Self-care is about honouring yourself, so do whatever excites and inspires you. New experiences spark new ideas, inspire joy, create new relationships, and help us grow. Be Yourself

Sure, you should be true to yourself all the time. But our professional personas can take energy to sustain. The opportunity to unmask, relax, and uncensored is important. Reconnect With Loved Ones

We’re all so busy in our day-to-day that it’s easy to go months without seeing the folks that mean something to us. Phone calls are great, and Zoom calls even better, but holiday time offers the perfect chance to get together and spend quality time with old friends or family. It’s vital for our well-being and sense of security to feel connected to others, especially the people we love most and enjoy spending time with.