Do you need a break?

We live in an unprecedented time. Our “new normal” is a quiet hum of stress underscored by fear and uncertainty. All while offering us the chance at societal change that has been a long time coming.

At times it all feels ok. We go through our day working intermittently between taking care of kids, playing teacher, and trying to maintain social relationships over a computer screen. We don’t even notice the buildup of unfettered anxiety.

One thing I struggle with is taking a break. I let the anxiety of the situation force me into more work, afraid that any moment away will invariably lead to a collapse of everything I’ve worked for. Not only is this silly, it’s counterproductive. I get less done over more hours because I can’t be present.

So how do we fix this? It can be as simple as taking a walk. I’ve forced myself to grab Bigsby and take a break, no matter what I’ve got going on. Leave my phone, no headphones, just some Vitamin D and time away from technology.

The hardest part is getting started. Realizing that the world will still be standing if we push pause. So just like with your workouts or your nutrition it’s time to get out there and go.

So as I sit here nursing a slight sunburn from my afternoon sojourn to Jacob Riis (the beach down in Rockaway, Queens) I realize that those few hours away from everything did more for me than any amount of work ever could.