hey friends,

i hope you are having a great start to quarter 3 & the second half of the year. i feel like for most people this is the time people reflect on what they’ve accomplished already and what they have YET to accomplish that they want to. i know for me i use this halfway point to reflect & plan. something i make sure to do is not to freak out and jam pack my schedule to accomplish those goals. i have done some research on the importance of resting both physically & mentally. working full time in a pizzeria that you own, being a step mom to an awesome daughter who is starting college in the fall, and trying to create an online community of people who are going through what you are is well A LOT!

i have my “day off” on Sundays but lately it just feels like a catch up day of what did i push to the side, business, community, and family wise during the week. like laundry, a social media post, or ig messages for y’all. my step daughter & i looked at our calendar for the rest of the summer & scheduled some rot Sundays because if we don’t schedule it we know we will schedule something else to do & forget to rest.

another thing i started doing is taking brain breaks during my work day, whether i am working in the pizzeria or in my office on my community & this blog, i make sure to schedule in breaks to do something different. it can be as short as 5 minutes or 30 minutes whatever works for you & your schedule.

some of the brain breaks i take are:

• animal crossing new horizons on my switch
• taking a walk inside on my walking pad or outside
• i love to color both on paper or digitally with @radandhappy’s Color Happy subscription.
• listening to a playlist (ya’ll know my love for the perfect playlist or a podcast i’m jiving with)
• reading on my kindle or a physical book
• just sitting outside for a few minutes breathing fresh air with deep breaths

the research, y’all know i wasn’t going to just let you take my word for it.

brain breaks during work are essential for productivity, focus, and overall well-being. Some benefits include:

• Improved concentration: Taking short breaks can help you refocus and come back to your task with renewed energy and attention.
• Reduced burnout: Breaking up your workday can help prevent mental exhaustion and reduce the risk of burnout.
• Boosted creativity: Stepping away from a task can help your brain relax and recharge, leading to new ideas and insights.
• Enhanced mental health: Brain breaks can help reduce stress and anxiety, promoting overall mental well-being.
• Increased productivity: Taking regular breaks can help you stay motivated and accomplish more in less time.
• Better decision-making: A fresh perspective gained during a brain break can lead to more informed and effective decision-making.
• Lowered heart rate: When you take a break to truly relax, however you define that, your heart rate drops into restoring mode, allowing you to recoup or store energy for your next task.

remember, taking short breaks is not a luxury, but a necessity for maintaining a healthy and productive day.

✨this is me giving you permission to take some time to yourself each day to regroup & reset!✨

what brain break can you schedule into your work days?