Take A Break

What I was taught in gym training is that lifting weights actually tears down your muscle fibres so that they can be built up again. This is why you do not work the same set of muscles two days in a row. You need to rest that muscle group because it is during this time of rest that the muscle fibres re-grow and become stronger than before.

This is a useful lesson in other aspects of life as well. When you take a break, you’re not just goofing off. You’re allowing your mental, spiritual and emotional muscles to re-build.

1. Meditate

This gives your mind a break by stopping conscious thinking for a while. Even 5 minutes helps, though most of us will take 20 minutes or longer to quieten our thoughts. Apparently when you go into deep meditation, your brain’s vibrations slow to even less than when you are asleep. This is true relaxation that your brain sorely needs because most of the time it is racing through life at the speed of thought.

There are many books and websites on meditation and I am not an expert so I won’t try to teach it here. You’ll have to find a method that works for you since there are so many out there. I personally like the book The Master Key System because it provides sound scientific explanations as well as simple practical actions.

What works for me is to light a candle in my room at night and sit straight up on a chair for at least 10 minutes. I just listen to all the sounds that I usually miss when bustling through life – the clock ticking, my own breathing, the fan’s blades, my dog’s paws padding around the house… When I start to ‘hear’ silence (yes, this is possible) then I know I have released all other distractions.

When I reach this level of meditation, I feel more refreshed than after a good night’s sleep. More often than not I don’t reach this level, but the few times it happens is worth it. You go into another zone where time doesn’t apply, touch the core of the universe and feel at one with all of humanity and creation. You’re truly taking a break from the external world.

2. Do something naughty

This is my way of taking a break spiritually. I’m sure God will understand, and if you don’t believe in God then this should be really easy!

Obviously stay within the law and don’t hurt other people, but there are many harmless ways to play truant from being good. Here are some that you may find tame, but that’s because I’m quite a wuss. Invent your own if you prefer.

- Walk down the middle of the road when there are no cars, as if you owned it.
- Get tipsy at lunchtime and flirt with a stranger, but stop there!
- Hang up on someone you don’t like mid-sentence and blame the connection later.
- Play your favourite music really loud and don’t worry about the neighbours.
- Turn down a request for help simply because you are taking a break from being good.

3. Spend some “Me” time

This is your emotional break. In-flight safety briefings remind passengers that in the event of an emergency, you should put on your own oxygen mask before helping a child or fellow passenger with theirs. This is common sense for survival. You can’t save anyone if you yourself are dying.

Schedule one day just to be with yourself, by yourself, for yourself. Half a day also works if you are really busy. There is no need to plan anything for this time slot. Just do whatever you feel like doing when the time comes.

I love to sit in a cafe with a good book and read the day away. Sometimes I go for a foot massage. Occasionally I take a walk in the park. I used to go shopping and play computer games but I think I’ve outgrown these and now prefer quieter pursuits.

Just do whatever you feel like doing. You are accountable to no one during this time, not even to yourself. If you felt like it, you could sit and stare into space all day and that’s fine. You don’t have to do anything. Just BE.

Life can be a long journey, and you need to stop for rest along the way. What else do you do when you take a break? Leave a comment so I can learn from you too!



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Posted by Daphne | September 26, 2008 | in Laugh A Lot


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2 Responses to “Take A Break”

  1. Daniel
    September 26th, 2008 @ 9:41 am

    Hi Daphne,

    Thanks for stopping by my site.

    Yes, I’m a Singaporean too.

    I think your site is fantastic given that you’ve only been blogging for 2 months – looking at your content, I’d believe you’re an avid reader of personal development books too. Great to know you!

    cheers
    Daniel

  2. Josh Lipovetsky
    November 22nd, 2009 @ 7:43 pm

    Haha at #2. I love turning up the music so loud when no one is home! It’s so refreshing, and it makes me feel so good!

    Thanks!
    Josh Lipovetsky.

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