06 Mar Taking breaks
I’ve just taken a proper break.
The first real one in quite a long time.
It was great. Restorative. Clarifying. Necessary.
And it reminded me of something important: I don’t want to wait so long next time.
The research on wellbeing and performance is clear … we don’t just benefit from long holidays. In fact, studies show that short, frequent breaks (even “micro-breaks” of just a few minutes) improve mood, boost energy, enhance focus, and reduce stress and burnout.
A five-minute walk.
A pause between meetings.
A day offline.
A long weekend without “just checking emails.”
These small resets compound.
We tend to think recovery is something we’ll do later; when things slow down. But recovery is actually what allows us to perform well now.
So this year I’m committing to more frequent, shorter breaks instead of waiting for the occasional big one (and I’m encouraging you to too!).
While we’re here, I’m curious … how good are you at taking small breaks before you desperately need a big one?