TIME FOR CREATIVITY & REST!
Have you ever noticed how when you’re trying to solve a crossword clue and can’t, but coming back to it after a different activity and all of a sudden the answer becomes clear? Well, you’re not alone. Let’s take a look at how this displacement activity can help towards your and your team’s creativity.
Medical news today writes that: “Researchers at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a part of the National Institute of Health, have shown that neural replay events occur during rest periods between practice sessions and have associations with performance improvement during skill learning.”
This is just one reason why taking regular breaks at work can actually improve our performance. So making sure you and your team members take their full break entitlements on a daily basis, get that down time during days off and also taking all your annual leave entitlement is crucial to working well. Not only will it help to prevent burn-out and maintain wellbeing, but it will also make your time at work more productive.
The Pomodoro Technique
There are different techniques you can use during your working day to maintain focus. One of the most popular is the Pomodoro Technique. Basically, give yourself 25 minutes of focused work, followed by a five-minute break. In that break, switch focus, or make yourself a brew, then come back for another 25-minute focus. Make sure you take a longer 20-minute break after several focused sessions.
Annual leave spacing
We all approach our leave year differently. Some people are very good at preplanning their holiday through the year, others struggle to take their leave, and then there are many in between! But one important thing with leave is taking it at regular intervals throughout the year to avoid burn out. So, think ahead, have that chat with your manager about when to take your leave (oh, and also to family so booking that time away!) and get it booked in! Having leave to look forward to can also help with your working well!
Feeling that burn out
If you do find yourself feeling overwhelmed with work and needing a break. Have that conversation with your manager. Sometime life events outside work can also contribute to burn out, so reach out for support. Maybe contact your company’s employee assistance programme if you have one, they can also support you.
Look out for signs of burnout in your team too. Is there someone that is acting differently to how they usually do? Have an informal chat with them, ask them how they are, then ask again, you might get a more honest answer the second time and see they get the support they need.
So fans of plans – give yourself that space – and let creativity flow!
PS If you want to stimulate your brain outside of the workplace, check out the Philosopher-in-Residence blog – out fortnightly on Thursdays, courtesy of Make Me A Plan’s Principal Planner, Anna Pascoe. Browse the latest edition here: