Daily detach: four simple ways to take a step back
We’ve all experienced it, the way taking a break can lead to a breakthrough — the idea that comes to you while taking a shower, the way “sleeping on it,” seems to make decisions easier.
Taking breaks is important for solving problems and managing stress. While it may seem difficult to carve out space and time for disengaging, it’s easier than you think. Here are four simple ways to take a step back during the day:
Begin Your Day with Something You Enjoy
For the non-early-birds of the world, the simple process of getting up and out on time can be the first major challenge of the day. Rushing through a morning routine means you’re feeling stressed before you’ve even left the house, and stress is an energy suck. Not only do you feel behind schedule from the moment you rise (and less inclined to take those necessary breaks), the stress causes your body to burn more energy, inhibiting your ability to stay focused and achieve your goals throughout the long day.
On the other hand, if you wake yourself up even twenty minutes earlier and move a little slower, perhaps read something enjoyable over breakfast — or at least eat breakfast — you begin your day less stressed and more invigorated.
Set Rules and Stick to Them
Detaching doesn’t always mean relaxing. It can also mean focusing on the task at hand and removing the distractions (until distraction is exactly what you need). Whether you’re tackling a challenging work project or trying to spend time with your kids, shutting down the phone, quitting email, or using an app to block access to certain sites for a particular time period (such as SelfControl for Macs) can keep you more present and grounded in your goals. Similarly, setting certain hours of the day in which to respond to messages or make calls frees you of the burden of worrying about those things constantly, an energy drain that will slow your productivity.
When You Finish a Task, Change Up Your Space
Humans are fast-paced, adaptable creatures, meaning we can easily move from task to task. It also means it doesn’t take much to do a mental reset. When you finish a task, stand and take a loop around the room, grab a drink of water, stretch, maybe change locations. If you can, take a walk. Exercise has long been associated with mental breakthroughs and better thinking, and even a few minutes of walking can be enough to release good-feeling hormones and unlock your creativity.
Shut Down Your Devices Before You Do
One of the central elements to living a happy, healthy life is sleep. We need sleep to function and the closer we get to enjoying the ideal 8-ish hours, the better our physical, emotional, and creative lives are. Unfortunately, the artificial light of a tablet, phone, or other devices actually lowers the amount of melatonin (the chemical that helps regulate sleep) in our bodies. Looking at screens before bed is directly tied to wakefulness. If you have difficulty falling asleep, you’ll likely have difficulty rising on time, which means you’ll likely feel more stressed and less able to take those critical breaks! Moreover, avoiding screens before bedtime opens up time for other relaxing activities, such as reading or listening to music.
Regardless of what your days look like, incorporating a few moments of detachment into your routine will allow you to de-stress, boost your creativity, and leave you feeling happier. It’s easier than you think!