Take a Break

Amid our busy lives, it’s important to stop and reflect. If you’re struggling with something, seek help.

When someone asks you how you are doing, how many times has the answer been something like, “I’m ok thanks, just busy”? No matter whether you’re studying, working or starting a family (or a mix of all the above and more) it is so common now for people in our modern, Western society to feel like their days and weeks are full to the brim and that they have little time to stop and relax. Research from 2018 suggests that 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point over the last year they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.¹ Which begs the question…

Why are we all so busy?

There are several reasons that could be at work individually or combining with one another in order to make us busier than ever before. Here’s a few:

Busyness has become a status symbol

“So, if leisureliness was once a badge of honour among the well-off of the 19th century…then busyness—and even stressful feelings of time scarcity—has become that badge now.”²We live in a culture and society that looks down upon people who are not busy and labels them as “lazy” or “a slacker”. This social pressure put on us can make us feel like we have to fill up all our time and overwork ourselves in order to be seen as successful.

There is an increased sense of FoMO (Fear of Missing Out)

The term FoMO was introduced in 2004 (interestingly the same year Facebook was founded) and describes the anxiety felt of missing out on a social situation.³ With the increase of social media we can see what everyone else is doing all the time, and this can lead to a sense of comparing our life against other people’s. Where social media sites should seemingly bring us a closer connection to other people, unfortunately they can often lead to a sense of social anxiety and even depression.

We never have to be bored anymore

With the arrival of the internet, the iPhone, YouTube, social media etc. we can easily fill all our time as there is so much entertainment at our fingertips. We may consume around 174 newspapers worth of information in a single day.⁴Some research from 2016 found that the average phone user touches their phone screen at least 2617 times per day.⁵This information overload can mean that we don’t take time out to take stock of how we’re really feeling, or we procrastinate rather than efficiently dealing with things or actively taking time to rest.

So how do we counter a busy world that wants to grab our attention 24/7? Here are a few practical suggestions:

Practice mindfulness

The practice of becoming fully aware of the present moment. There are many apps that can guide you in mindfulness and meditation or you could use a simple action such as gardening, listening to music or cleaning the house as a time to get away from the busyness and stress of life for a little while.

Say no

Fight against the urge of FoMO and be willing to say no to people’s plans sometimes if you feel like you just need a bit of relaxation or time to yourself. We all recharge in different ways and social interaction is important, but it can also be beneficial to spend some time on your own.

Set reminders

Taking a 5-to-10-minute break from a screen every hour is suggested.⁶Use this time to get away from your devices rather than just flicking from your study to social media. You can use reminders or alarms on your phone to prompt you to take these short breaks.

Get away from your desk at lunch

When possible, get outside and into nature at lunch time to give your mind a break for a slightly longer period. Vitamin D from the sun increases serotonin which can improve your mood too. Going back to work after a relaxing lunch may also give you a boost as you start up again in the afternoon.

Disclaimer: No content on this site should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.