The Importance of and Art of Taking a Break from Work

In professional careers we tend to focus a lot on what we're do at work - but what we do *outside* of work can be just as important. This is a well known phenomenon in other endeavours in life - for example in athletic endeavours it's not just the training, but the quality and quantity of recovery and sleep you get that's just as important.

Taking breaks, both short and long, is a key component of a maintaining a healthy and sustainable work life balance. Perhaps counter-intuitively, breaks can also help directly with your work as well, in multiple ways.

But the huge benefits of taking a break is wasted if you don't think about and plan for how you take a break.

In my latest Hacking Academia video and podcast, I delve into the why and how of taking breaks from your professional career.

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🔗 Full page and notes: https://michaelmilford.com/the-importance-of-and-art-of-taking-a-break-from-work/

🔗 Complete series covering topics including #negotiation, #writing #papers that get accepted, managing #rejection, #worklifebalance, finding and applying for a great #PhD and many more: https://lnkd.in/gwhjXa9G

🔗 Complete YouTube playlist: https://lnkd.in/ghdpeTfJ

⌚ Topic Timestamps:

📌 (0:00) Introduction to Taking Breaks 
📌 (0:34) Taking Effective Breaks is a Skill
📌 (1:30) Breaks Are Vital Even if You Don't Think You Need Them
📌 (1:51) The Obvious Personal Benefits of Taking Breaks
📌 (2:13) Taking Breaks Benefits Your Work 
📌 (2:34) Distance From Work Generates New Insights 
📌 (3:07) Breaks Give You a Better Work Reset Opportunity
📌 (3:32) Good Break Planning and Execution is Vital
📌 (3:48) Taking Good Breaks Means Letting Go
📌 (4:12) Focus on the Bigger Picture Benefits of a Break
📌 (4:45) Thinking About Good Work News is Still Thinking About Work! 
📌 (5:53) Provide Alternative 📌 (Agreed Upon) Points of Contact
📌 (6:13) Alert People Before Your Break 
📌 (6:26) Alternative Points of Contact Reduce But Don't Remove Missed Opportunities 
📌 (6:37) Example: Dealing with a Speaking Opportunity Invitation 
📌 (7:18) Nominate Multiple Appropriate Points of Contact 
📌 (7:21) Delegation Can Provide Others with Development Opportunities
📌 (7:31) Confirm Points of Contact Are Willing to Do So and Give Them Clear Instructions  
📌 (7:38) Points of Contact Are Not Full Replacements For You
📌 (7:56) Approaches to Managing Crises While You're Away 
📌 (8:30) Make Sure People Know You're Away 
📌 (8:37) Notify All Communication Channels
📌 (8:55) Disconnecting Fully From Work
📌 (9:07) Fully Quarantining Your Work Communications
📌 (9:57) Choosing Between Zero and Highly Limited Work Check Ins
📌 (10:15) Objectively Assessing the Actual Need for Check Ins
📌 (10:48) Minimizing the Intrusion of Work Check Ins
📌 (11:21) Be Aware Of and Minimize Work Check In Creep
📌 (11:51) Work-Disconnected Mechanisms For Noting Ideas
📌 (12:31) Short Versus Long Breaks
📌 (13:20) Develop Your Own Break Taking Philosophy