"A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare" – Leisure by William Henry Davies

This poem rightly points out today's fast-paced world. Nobody has the time to wait and appreciate what they have. We always want more out of it and are involved in the rat race of earning money, power, and status.

But this has a lot of negative repercussions. It leads to neglecting your family, insomnia, loneliness, anxiety, other mental health issues, physical weakness among others. Being a workaholic that was once considered ideal is now being looked down on by others.

People who were workaholics now realize what a price they have to pay. The old customs of overworking just to please the boss, get an increment are now being discarded. Employees are now realizing their power of saying NO to extra work, and how beneficial it is.

Maintaining a work-life balance is crucial.

If you feel guilty while taking a day off for yourself, or following your hobbies and passions then I am here to tell you not to!

Who needs a break?

'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"

This quote shows how overworking is harmful to one's personal life and well-being. Everyone be it a student, freelancer, employee, small business owner, homemaker needs a break to refresh and rejuvenate.

However, much you love your work at one point in time you will get bored of doing the same work again and again.

After reaching that tipping point you'll face a lot of lethargy, body pain, lack of interest and motivation, irritation, and bad mood.

To work smoothly you need to destress and relax a little.

How often should one take breaks?

You don't have to wait to reach the tipping point to take a break. For employees, Sundays can be a day where you relax and rewind as Sunday is an off day in many offices.

For freelancers and small business owners, there is no off day. You can take out a few hours once or twice a week to take a break from your work. Or you can take off days and tell your clients that you won't be working for a few days. As you are the boss you can do it!

Once a month taking a day or two out is crucial.

What can you do during your break?

As the responsibilities of life take over, we tend to forget our hobbies, passions, and activities that give us joy. These are the things that you need to revive and cultivate in your break.

Dancing, cooking, baking, knitting, stitching, singing are some of the many hobbies that one can have. You can do what gives you the most joy. It does not need to create monetary benefits for you. This you do for your pleasure and nothing else.

For example, a lot of people like to paint. During your off time, you simply paint a small painting. You don't need to make it perfectly and sell it. You can make mistakes, scribble and throw your brush here and there. This will help your brain to refresh.

You can hang that painting in your house or simply keep it in your portfolio as a memory.

You can also take a small trip or a weekend getaway with your loved ones. Spending time with friends and family always gets one back on track.

How does that help me?

Taking a break will help you get your motivation, creative strength, physical health, and well-being back on track. Your creative juices will flow and you might get hit with an amazing idea that wouldn't have if you'd kept working like a machine.

It's said that if you are stuck with a problem that is impossible to solve you should take a break, refresh yourself and look at it from another perspective. Tiring your brain by endlessly trying to solve the issue is a waste of time.

After your break when you get back to work, I promise you will feel more energized, motivated, and charged! You'll become more efficient and hardworking without harming your mental and physical health.

So, work 110% for your job or small business but also enjoy 110% during your off days. Do not think about your work all the time as it will consume you and make you distant from the other things in life.

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