#009 - Avoiding Burnout with Regular Breaks

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Hey there, I hope your sketchbook or journal is filling up with amazing ideas! If you've missed that email, you can still read it here! This week, we’re going to focus on the importance of taking regular breaks to avoid burnout and keep your creativity thriving.

Actionable Tip: Take regular breaks to avoid burnout. Working non-stop can lead to exhaustion and burnout. Scheduling regular breaks helps you stay refreshed and maintain your creative energy. Even short breaks can make a big difference.

Inspiration Corner: I sometimes wonder how I managed to be on the go from 6 am until midnight, always pushing and working, 7 days a week. Eventually, I hit a wall and couldn’t find any motivation to continue. I was hitting burn-out and I was hitting it full force. When I started hiking in 2020 I realized how good getting out and taking a break was for me. Not only did it allow me to step away from things, but it also helped me with my creativity and yeah even productivity.

I'll be honest, there are days I still find myself going balls to the wall from the time I wake up until I go to bed, that's between 7 am and 9 pm. And here's what my breaks look like: play with the dogs, take them on a walk, or head to the dog park. Go hiking with them once a week and go on a camping trip once a month. And this is working for me at the moment. I can be as productive as I want to be. I know there are breaks built in.

Creative Challenge: Implement a break schedule in your routine. Here’s how:

Pomodoro Technique: Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. After four cycles, take a longer break (15-30 minutes).
Short Breaks: Take a 5-10 minute break every hour to stretch, walk, or do a quick meditation.
Long Breaks: Ensure you have at least one day a week where you step away from your creative work completely.

Resource Recommendation: Learn more about the Pomodoro Technique and other break strategies from online articles and apps. The Pomodoro Tracker (pomodorotracker.com) is a great tool to help you get started.

I dislike that we live in a world where taking breaks could be considered lazy but it isn't. Regular breaks will keep you refreshed, inspired, and ready to tackle new challenges. Rome was not built in a day and you deserve to pause and renew yourself.

Stay wild-hearted!

Cheers,

Petra Monaco

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