Stop Chasing Your Tale

Our ranch dog, Blue, just had eight puppies. I’m fascinated by how she’s coping with her new, hectic life. She’s a great mother, fully dedicated to each pup, but she’s also committed to taking regular breaks. Every hour, she steps away for about five minutes and goes to the corner of the room to recharge.

In her excellent article on self-care in the Harvard Business Review, Dr. Palena Neale lays out the scientific case for taking breaks: “Studies show that taking breaks can help prevent decision fatigue, renew and strengthen motivation, increase productivity and creativity, and consolidate memory and improve learning. Even short ‘micro-breaks’ can improve focus and productivity.”

Neuroscientists can actually see this in brain scans. When stressed, we’re in fight-or-flight mode in the amygdala. But even a short break moves us into the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for logical reasoning, problem-solving, decision-making, and willpower.

Don’t be a fool and try to “tough it out.” The great psychologist Carl Jung said, “I’ve realized that somebody who’s tired and needs a rest, and goes on working all the same, is a fool.”

Follow Blue’s example. She is pound for pound the toughest animal on this ranch.