Too often, people talk about skipping breaks as if it’s a mark of dedication. Eat at your desk. Keep working through lunch. Stay glued to your screen because every extra minute counts. I never bought into that mindset. I’ve always taken my breaks, and nowadays I even have my lunch blocked off on my Outlook calendar, hoping to discourage others from scheduling meetings during that time. It doesn’t always work, so sometimes I take my break before or after a meeting—but I still get it. Eating in front of a Zoom meeting does not count as a proper break.
For me, lunch breaks are essential. They’re my reading time, my mental reset, my chance to breathe. On warm days, I step outside for a walk, letting fresh air and movement clear my head. When the weather turns cold, I close my office door, turn away from my computer, and read while I eat. Without this downtime, I am far less focused, far less creative, and far less effective than if I tried to push through lunch at my desk.
Continue reading “Take your breaks—you’ve earned them!”
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