Striking A Balance Between Productivity And Rest
Get out that to-do list and get to work. Always be productive. It’s a thought process that has been taught to us our whole lives. We learned it in school, where constant hard work and a competitive spirit were hailed as the most desirable traits a student could possess. We learned it at home, where watching TV or hanging out with friends after a long day of school would get many of us in trouble.
However, contrary to popular belief, productivity is not always healthy, especially when it is overdone. There is even a term for it – toxic productivity. Our productivity becomes toxic when we cross that thin line between making good use of our time and overworking ourselves. When we cross that line and enter the territory of toxic productivity, it can affect our future productivity and negatively impact our health and general wellbeing.
As the New Year approaches, you are probably excited about setting new goals. Most of us want to hit the ground running and make the upcoming year “our year.” This is an awesome attitude to have, and it is never too early to start planning. However, while you are setting those goals and restructuring your routine, keep in mind the importance of rest and make it a priority.
Make sure you set aside downtime so you have time to relax, hang out with your loved ones, or even just exist in a low-pressure space. Also, don’t forget to factor in actual sleep hours and make a healthy sleep routine a part of your goals this coming year. Making both of these a priority will help you experience some major perks to both your productivity and overall health.
How Rest Days Can Improve Productivity
We know it seems counterintuitive, but taking time away from work can ultimately increase your productivity. In fact, it has been proven by several studies. To provide some perspective, here are a few ways your life may change if you set aside rest days during your busy week.
- Improved Creativity. If you are in a line of work where creativity is key, then you need to give your brain and body the rest they deserve to keep those juices flowing. Studies have shown that taking time out of your day or week to relax helps improve thinking capacity and problem-solving skills.
- Prevention of Mental Burnout. Burnout is real and its sucks. At some point, we have all gone through that dreaded brain fog after working too hard. And it always hits at the most inconvenient time. The only way to avoid this is by actually giving your brain some time to rest. This could include getting enough sleep, working rest days into your weekly routine, or simply not biting off more than you can chew.
- Increased Discipline During Work Hours. There is something about knowing that you have a couple of free hours at the end of the day or a free day during the week that makes you more disciplined when you actually have to get something done. The last thing you want to do is to have work spilling over into your precious resting hours.
- Improved Memory and Concentration. Cognitive functions like memory and concentration also improve greatly from giving your mind some time off every now and then. Sleep, in particular, has been shown to have major effects on cognition with everything from thought-flow to short term memory.
The Health Benefits of Rest Days
Your productivity isn’t the only thing that takes a hit when you deprive yourself of much-needed rest and relaxation. Your physical health is at risk too. In addition to the cognitive health benefits mentioned above, here are a few more ways your health will benefit from simply taking some time off for yourself.
- Prevention of Physical Burnout. Most of us are very aware of mental burnout as the effects are often quite dramatic. However, the rest of your body is also at risk of running out of fuel and crashing. You may notice it as odd aches here or skin changes there. Resting allows your body to recover and rejuvenate so you can look and feel great.
- Maintenance of Healthy Eating Habits. This may come as a bit of a surprise, but there is quite a strong connection between sleep and eating habits. One of the most studied of these effects is the fact that sleep deprivation may increase the level of appetite-stimulating hormones that result in binges and unhealthy cravings.
At the same time, too much rest could have similar effects. The more time you have on your hands, the more likely you are to slip into unhealthy eating habits. That’s why balance is so important when it comes to productivity.
Bring Balance To Your Life: Embrace the #NewEarthLife
At New Earth we believe in the art of striking balance when it comes to productivity. It’s what we call living the #NewEarthLife. So join the family for tips on how to make the most of your time without putting your health and productivity at risk. It will definitely be a real game-changer as we go into the New Year. At New Earth we are on a mission to positively impact the health of every body and soul we come in contact with. We specialize in producing third-party certified, organic whole food supplements including a variety of probiotics, and digestive support. Our supplements feature a rare, yet highly, nutritious superfood, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA). Also known as organic Wild Microalgae®, AFA is a unique type of blue-green algae that is available in many forms including algae tablets, algae pills, and algae powders all designed to help you on your journey to holistic wellness. The best part? We offer a 90-day money-back risk-free guarantee on all of our products. Visit our website to learn more.
