Dear Daughter,

Being a person who thrives on cranking out work and crossing off every task on the to-do-list, I sometimes have a difficult time taking breaks. It’s too much fun to keep on going! But I’ve learned the hard way when it’s time for me to slow down and take a break. I know exactly when all it takes is one more email that needs to be answered, and I will be pushed to my breaking point. One more thought and I will crash. I know that you’ve witnessed this process Elsa, which is not very fun to be part of. My patience goes out the window, and my stress level goes out the roof. I try to prevent myself from getting to that point, but it’s not easy.

Not taking breaks leads to decision fatigue and a lack of focus. It also increases stress, and stress kills. It is actually a very frightening process. One of my worst experiences was when I pushed myself to the brink and I was stuck in bed for a couple of days without an ounce of energy or motivation. I was literally paralyzed and couldn’t move or think. So I wanted to share with you a system I’ve figured out to ensure you don’t experience the same thing. I want you to try it now when you go to college so that you can start building these healthy habits.

Micro-breaks

I set an alarm on my phone to ring at different times
- Every 30 minutes, stand up for 2 mins and take deep breaths. Stretch your arms up in towards the ceiling and breathe.
- Every hour take a five minute break to walk away from your computer.
- Every four hours , try to go outside to breath some fresh air for 10 minutes

These are not long breaks, but they make a big difference on your mental state and your body, which gets a chance to stretch and move.

Lunch-time breaks

This one is tricky since I have meetings all day long. Too many times I get stuck in front of the computer eating while I’m working. When it’s impossible for me to take a real lunch-break, I make sure to take 10 minutes after or before lunch-time to have a cup of tea while practicing mindfulness. I sit there and focus fully on my tea and the beauty in the garden if I’m outside. I’ve learned that this practice tricks my brain to think that I’m still getting an “eating break” while relaxing, and that way I don’t feel that I’m missing out on a real lunch. Try it, it works!

Elsa, I don’t want you to experience the feeling of being completely burned out like I did. I wish I would have started this practice when I was your age. Try to make these little breaks a habit, and you will protect yourself.