On a busy workday, you may begin to feel exhausted and long for a relaxing break. However, you will unlikely require a full-fledged vacation to reset your mind and feel rejuvenated to face your remaining tasks. With the correct strategies, you may be able to recharge right in the middle of the workday without the need for a plane ticket or PTO.
To assist you, a panel of Young Entrepreneur Council members published a list of strategies they recommend you try if you need to unplug and recharge during the day.
Q: You might not always be able to drop everything and go on vacation, but what’s one thing you do during the workday to unplug and recharge, even if it’s just for a few minutes?
1. DISCONNECT FROM YOUR DEVICES
I feel it is critical to unplug and calm down your mind. Take 10 minutes, leave your phone in a drawer, go for a stroll (preferably outside), try to quiet your thinking, and then get back to work.
The worst thing you can do is check your emails on social media, adding extra noise and clutter to your brain. Allow yourself a minute to reset by turning it off.
2. ATTEMPT A POWER NAP
I am a proponent of a 20-minute power sleep after lunch. The after-lunch slump always gets to me. For years, I fought it with huge amounts of caffeine. I succumbed in and lay down on my office couch for 20 minutes one day.
I awoke rested, refreshed, and far more productive than if I’d taken a couple of espressos. Unplug and recharge your batteries with a well-deserved power snooze!
3. LISTEN TO AN AUDIOBOOK
I prefer to take a break from work by listening to a chapter or two of a fiction audiobook. The book changes depending on what I’m listening to at the moment.
I felt refreshed and ready to return to work after around 20 minutes. Sometimes a short break is all I need to refocus and conquer the day.
4. LEAVE YOUR OFFICE OR WORKSPACE
Above all, get up and leave your desk or workspace. If you don’t modify your surroundings, you won’t be able to devote 100% of your energy to recharge. Walking outside or meditating are two of the best things to do after leaving your job.
Both help you clear your mind and re-energize so that you can tackle the next items on your to-do list. Schedule breaks several times throughout the day.
5. GO FOR A QUICK WALK OUTSIDE
Go for a walk outside without your phone. It can be either short or long. Bring the dog if you work from home. Bring a colleague if you are at the office.
A breath of fresh air, some physical activity, and some vitamin D reduce tension and encourage creative energy, making the rest of your workday more successful and pleasurable.
6. TALK TO COLLEAGUES
A quick coffee break and small discussions with your favorite colleagues are great ways to recharge during the workday.
Get up from your workstation and go somewhere you aren’t staring at a computer or a stack of files reminding you of work. A little talk during a tough workday can help you recharge.
7. ENGAGE IN YOUR FAVORITE ACTIVITY
Make a list of your favorite activities to do at home. Please put this in your phone’s notes and refer to it frequently during breaks.
Drawing, reading, learning a new skill, taking a course, doing yoga, or meditating are all possibilities. Personalizing this list is the first stage, and referring to it and spending time away from the business is an important step in growing your attitude.
8. BREAK A SWEAT
Make an effort to engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day. It’s crucial to get 30 minutes of activity in, whether you do it in the morning, during your lunch break, or after work.
It also doesn’t matter what kind of activity you undertake. Just make sure you break up a sweat. Exercising increases energy, improves mood and improves sleep.
9. PUT YOUR PHONE ON AIRPLANE MODE
Putting your phone in airplane mode for a few minutes during the workday is one method to recharge. Airplane mode will prevent you from receiving emails, text messages, or phone calls.
Taking a break from work can be useful if you have some extra time. Camping is something I enjoy doing. When I go camping, I either don’t have a signal or put my phone on airplane mode to give myself a break.
10. PRACTICE BEING PRESENT
The secret to feeling refreshed is to shift your focus from thinking, planning, and working to being present. Take slow breaths and observe your body to distract yourself from your racing thoughts.
A small step helps you stay grounded in reality and pay attention to your surroundings. Even on a bad day, doing this for a few minutes will give you a simple and effective approach to re-energize.
