While it may be common knowledge that everyone needs a break, people often forget to take them. At times you may need to force yourself to a break by scheduling one. After doing so, see to it that you preserve that time and uphold the commitment. Do something fun and relaxing during your break — or don’t do anything at all and take a nap. Eventually, aim for scheduling a “day of rest.”
Dr. Matthew Sleeth, former emergency room physician and author of the book 24/6, in a CNN interview earlier this year discussed how having a day of rest makes people healthier. He also mentioned that the “full-throttle” Western lifestyle leads to depression and anxiety. According to a study sponsored by the World Health Organization, as reported by Bloomberg in July 2011, the United States and France are the most depressed countries in the world, based on people who reported being depressed or anxious.
The idea of taking a day off stems from the Ten Commandments of the Bible. The fourth Commandment says to honor the Sabbath, a word that means “to cease.” Over the years, however, interpretations of what it means to cease have changed. For some people a “day of rest” means going for run, while for others it means reading a book.
“But taking a day off will leave me behind on my work!” That’s probably the most common response to this notion. However, taking a day off forces you to become more organized and to concentrate the bulk of your work into six days. It also allows your body and mind to recuperate so that you can be even more efficient for the next six days. When transitioning into the 24/6 schedule, begin by taking baby steps. You can start out with scheduling breaks a couple times a week, then once a day, then designating an afternoon of rest, until you have a day of rest. Keep in mind that “rest” means “relaxation,” and not necessarily “sleep,” so be sure to do whatever it is that makes you feel relaxed.
Cheers, Mani Kéita
