BALANCING PRODUCTIVITY & "DOWN TIME"

In today's society it's easy to get wrapped up in something new and forget to rest. There always seems to be another project or task that can be worked on or improved. It feels like, in order to be seen, you have to go above and beyond or work harder than others or you won't get the recognition you feel you deserve or strive for. This can make remembering to take a break and "unplug" difficult or lead to no downtime at all. While being productive and having the urge to get stuff done is great, it's important to remember that some down time is just as important and can lead to better work quality with a higher drive to succeed. 

The recent statistics surrounding the average amount of hours we work here in the US is appalling. As of 2018, 85.8% of men and 66.5% of women work more than 40 hours per week, with productivity per American worker increased 400% since 1950.* This leaves a majority of US citizens with low to no down time which can allow home life and mental health to suffer. 
*Statistics found from this blog with sources to other sites. 

It's now more apparent than ever that taking care of yourself and allowing yourself some time off from any sort of work can literally be "what the doctor ordered" and increase your quality of life. Allowing yourself just a few hours to rest can improve life at home, your mental health, and help you feel less drained while simultaneously getting in a better state of mind to work more efficiently later on. Here are some ways you can relax and just take time for yourself and/or your family: 

1. Unplug from the world (i.e., get off social media). This seems relatively simple but getting away from your phone or other distractions and taking a walk or going to the park can be just what your brain and body need for a little boost. Phones serve as easy distractions and it's easy to get caught up on what's happening, but you're not really giving your brain a break and the blue light emitted from your phone or computer screen can decrease sleep quality later on. 

2. Take a nap (if you can). Going to lay down in a dark room for even just 15 minutes can help quiet your mind and ease mental exhaustion by giving your brain a break. If you often get easily overwhelmed or are just naturally an introvert, this is a great method that will come naturally to you. Think of a baby that's been in an overly-stimulating environment for too long- they get cranky and fussy and have a difficult time processing what's going on around them. Adults can get the same way too, it's just harder for us to pin point the root of our irritation because we're not as "communicative" as we were as babies. 

3. Take a bath! This is another nice way to calm down and ease stress by getting time to yourself and doing something relaxing. My favorite way to do this is to light candles instead of using the harsh fluorescent light in our bathroom, use Epsom Salts, jasmine or lavender essential oil and just soak to help ease muscle pain, reduce stress and take a break. 

4. Get a massage or take a spa day. There's nothing like getting out of the house and enjoying some "me time" while doing something that makes you feel good and will improve your health. Not enough people take the time to work on their health or do something good for themselves and we often hear the terms "I don't have the time" or something similar. If you allow yourself even just a few hours of downtime a day, that's plenty of time to do something good for yourself that is completely yours. You should not be ashamed of taking that time for yourself. 


Balancing productivity and down time isn't an easy task and everyone will approach the challenge differently. Aim for at least an hour a day to relax and unwind before jumping into the next project. While being productive, focus on the task at hand and work hard as this will make your down time more rewarding and get you motivated to move on to the next task. 

It's also important to note that during your productive time, aim for minimum distractions in order to increase your efficiency and get more done. This means staying off social media and avoid the TV until your task at hand is done. 

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We understand that life gets crazy and to expect down time of yourself is a difficult task to accomplish. However, not allowing your mind and body to recuperate can lead to lower work quality, less desire or motivation to work on projects, and even a lower quality of life. Taking the time to keep yourself in good health should be prioritized over everything else because when all is said and done, your health and well-being are what decide your limits. 

Take care of yourself by coming in for a massage to make sure you're in fighting shape and ready to take on the next big thing!

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