"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Why we need down time.


"You need to rest your mind in order for it to work well on a long-term basis.

Many people need to schedule these rest periods, and even lay down rules for what can and cannot be done during those times.

If you’re not naturally inclined to slowing down and taking a break, the best thing you can do is schedule downtime.

How much downtime you need to schedule is a personal matter that depends on several factors.

It’s tempting to schedule less time than you need, but don’t succumb to that temptation.

Think about how much you need as opposed to how much you can get by with.

Set Rules for Your Downtime:

For example, restrict what you can and cannot use a computer for. Maybe you need to spend more time with your kids, so give yourself the requirement that you spend a certain amount of time each week playing with them (if you’re not already doing this, this article is even more important for you).

Proponents of Getting Things Done and various other productivity systems have a great tool for optimizing your actions -- the weekly review. Your weekly review should adopt a new component: the weekly downtime review.

It’s important, though, to gauge how effective your downtime is and how successful you’ve been at making your downtime appointments.

How much downtime did you take in the last week?
How does that compare to the amount you scheduled?
Downtime is important.

Realize that relaxing isn’t a total waste of time, even if the lack of action makes it feel that way."

Sources:
Lifehack.org August 25, 2008
So do y'all take DELIBERATE DOWN TIME? That's hard for me.

Chatty

3 comments:

ClassyChassy said...

Also important - don't schedule TOO much down time! You'll never GET R DONE!!! (got a project set for Friday this week??)

^..^Corgidogmama said...

Downtime is extremely important to coping with stress levels...at least it is for me. I try to get some each week...even if it's just going on my farm animal runs...it's very soothing to watch the sheep, and have them come up to the fence, and bahhhhhh at the corgi kids and I as I sip my senior coffee from McD's.
A good book, and a cup of hot tea helps too. There are many time when I don't answer the phone...or door too.
It's a personal choice, isn't it?

Buttercup said...

I pencil down time into my schedule. And don't answer the phone, either. That really feels like a treat. A good book and an iced coffee and no phone and I am a happy and relaxed woman.