21 of 100 – Relax and Up Your Productivity

I don't get as much rest.  Six hours of sleep is a typical night for me.  Taking time off to have a little fun doesn't happen that often.

I know that to be as productive as possible and to be at my creative best, I need it.  It's not a luxury.  It's a need.

Just the other day, I started my day at 4am.  I had a call with one of my Philippine team members and then reviewed some project work that needed to get done before I started with meetings at 9.

Around 7, I had got to the end of task.  I was done with that one thing.  I had a choice.  I could jump onto the next thing on my list or I could take a walk.  (My dog really likes these.)

I get a lot of exercise so I have that covered, but I don't give myself much "fool around" time.  This is time when I can mentally stop if that make sense.  It's time where my mind can wander and not be "on."

I made the call to take the walk.  It was a short 20 minute, but I came back really refreshed.  I came home, brewed a cup of coffee and started back up again.  That short time out prepared me for the next thing and I was better for it.  It helped keep my productivity high.

I drive myself hard.  I cram as much into my schedule as possible.  Is know time is my most precious resource and work to squeeze everything I can out of every millisecond.

I need to stop this.  It need to give myself permission and even require myself to take these breaks.  What I realize that when I do, my productivity increases.  It's counter intuitive, but that "time out" makes my "time in" that much better.

Note to self:  Take a break