The Writer’s Coin

At my old job I used to take a one-hour lunch break where I could run some errands, eat lunch, and surf the web. It wasn’t your average lunch break though: I usually sat outside (in the summer) or in a lounge area (during the winter) and read my book for around 40 minutes. This was the most refreshing part of my day. It was a complete break from the whole idea of even being at work. By the time I got back to my desk it felt like I had just gotten in—only I had two hours until I went home.

Then I heard stories from other people (M included) where they couldn’t even take lunch at all, forget about sitting and reading for 40 minutes. I couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t just take it.

Now I know. At my new job I can pretty much take whatever break I want. I have the library right next to me and I could go sit there for 30 minutes and no one would care. The problem is what I’m doing now is time sensitive so if I go to the library that’s 30 minutes less to get my stuff done. So what I do now is eat at my desk, surf the web while I’m doing it, and if I have time go for a quick walk down to the lobby and back (just to move around a little). Then it’s back to work.

I feel like it’s the least I can do but I definitely recommend at least leaving your desk for a little walk. No matter what your job is all about, I think a writing tip applies to everyone’s situation: sometimes you need to get your mind out of the way for a good idea to come. Same goes with whatever it is you do for a living: if you try to do it for 8–9 hours straight, you probably won’t be running at top speed near the middle and end.

Take a break.

Get out of the office, go somewhere you usually don’t go, go into a store you’ve never gone into, just do something to disconnect yourself for a little while to give your mind a chance to reset and refresh.

I can’t read for 40 minutes anymore but I can still reset my brain as best I can so I’m productive the rest of the day. Think of how refreshing a vacation is and how much it reinvigorates you (by the way I’m going to Aruba in March—yes!).

Do you have any good break/reset tips?

Tags: going for a walk, lunch hour, reading, taking a break