Even Jesus took a break once in a while. Or at least He encouraged His disciples to. In Mark 6, so many people were coming and going that the disciples didn’t even have a chance to eat. Does that sound familiar?
We women can get so busy with multi-tasking that we hardly take time to eat. We answer e-mails, go to meetings, and rush to get things done while we talk on the phone at work. Work-at-home moms answer email and finish projects while home schooling or cooking lunch. Then we run out to carpool our kids and do errands. Some days if feels like we hardly have time to take a potty break, let alone eat!
We all need to stop and take a break once in a while.
When I worked as a secretary years ago, coffee break was an institution. Everyone sat down at 10:30 a.m. and at 3:30 p.m. for 15 minutes to chat over coffee or a soft drink. Now that I’ve been a stay at home mom for years, I have no idea how many working people take regular coffee breaks.
I do know this: I wish I had the discipline of taking regular breaks in my day!
Taking regular breaks adds balance to life. Taking a break gives us a chance to breathe, to clear our minds, and get a few minutes of physical and mental rest. We can take a break because we trust God will help us accomplish what we need to when it’s time to get back to work.
The next time you feel tired, how about taking a break?
- Take a power nap.
- Listen to music.
- Drink a cup of tea.
- Sit down to read your Bible or pray.
- Put your feet up.
- Grab 15 minutes with a good book.
- Call a friend for a quick update.
- Go outside and walk around the block.
You’ll feel better when it’s time to return to work. If Jesus took a break once in a while, I think we can too!
Now it’s your turn: Do you take regular breaks from work? What do you like to do?
I’m linking up with Kate Motaung’s Five Minute Friday. Writers all around the world join in a flash mob of free writing. Five minutes. No editing. This week’s prompt is “Break.” Join us over at Kate’s place for fun and encouragement.
Also joining with Grace & Truth, and The Weekend Brew.
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Uh…men get overwhelmed, too…
I’m no longer in the workforce. I’m too sick to hold a job, so I try to write, and used to do some welding and metalwork to keep my hands busy. Getting a bit too bad for that, though, and I miss it.
With this illness, my body forces me to take breaks; pushing beyond where the pain starts screaming at me just invites an inconvenient collapse (like the time I fainted while using a grinder, and woke up with a huge divot carved out of my right hand).
I’ll usually have a Diet Coke, and perhaps either read or watch a few minutes of a DVD.
My service dogs enforce this; they will gently push me away from the computer and to my usual ‘place’, sitting on the living room floor. Then one will lie across my legs, to make sure I stay put.
Yes, Andrew, I imagine that men get overwhelmed too. Although you guys are so much better than we women at doing one thing at a time. I only have my husband to compare myself with.
So interesting that your service dogs make you take a break. Grace to you. I hope you have a good weekend.
what a timely reminder! I was just talking to a friend yesterday about the fast paced life we all live in. I feel like I run in circles and don’t ever take a break. I think multi-tasking is counter-productive and how refreshing to read your post and be encouraged to take that break to refresh my body, mind and spirit. Thank you for sharing. It’s encouraging!
I think you’re right, Lisa. Multi-tasking is probably not all it’s cracked up to be. I like the way men do things: one at a time. Multi-tasking can be good in brief spurts, but if it’s our modus operandi, it adds so much stress and probably makes us less effective in the long run.
I understand the busy of life – being a working Mom, homeschooling Mom and wife who has a hard time saying “no” I can get myself into an unbalanced-too busy cycle all too often. But, I think Jesus example of taking a break to be with God is better than any attempt at rest I can muster on my own. So, if I don’t get any other break in my day I know I have my 2:00 coffee date with Jesus!
A 2 o’clock coffee date with Jesus sounds wonderful, Jamie. That’s a great idea. I have my time with Jesus in the morning, but later on in the day, if I could get myself to do it, is probably when I need it more!
Your title shouted out to me this morning – I am tired!! It’s so interesting to look back to the times of a full 15 minute coffee break – such a good idea – I’m sure everyone felt better afterwards – more connected and revived! I try to use a pomodoro timer when I’m working which indicates a 5 minute break every 25 minutes and a 15 minute break every 2 hours – it’s a tough discipline but I always seem to get more done when I do it, even though it feels like a lot of breaks!
Planning some time to get away with Jesus amongst my weekend for a spiritual break, and thankful for this post prompting me to add it to my list – now it will happen! Have a lovely weekend Betsy x
You have a great weekend, too, Victoria. I so appreciate your being part of my community! Yes, I think that 15 minute coffee break has died, and I think you’re right. Everyone felt better afterwards. I use the pomodoro technique too, but sometimes my 5 minute break is reading e-mail or something like that. NOT really a break. I want to get better at that.
I loved this Betsy! And while it’s frowned on at my job when we are not “productive” I can find ways to take a much needed break: Walk around the office to stretch my legs and refresh my mind, eat an apple in the afternoon (my 3:30 coffee break!). And now, after reading this, I won’t feel guilty for these refreshing breaks! Thank you my friend!
An apple in the afternoon is probably a lot healthier than a coffee break! I wondered about regular breaks for in professional working places. Your comment makes me think that just as I suspected, coffee break is less common now…
I love that idea! I think that scheduling in breaks is fantastic for productivity during the non-break time.
I couldn’t agree more, Hannah. I’m much more productive when I take breaks. When I work through, my productivity declines!
This is so healthy and such godly advice. We think we are “accomplishing a lot” when we go full steam ahead, but when Jesus lived on this planet, even He took breaks for refreshment and prayer.
Yes, He did, Michele. Thanks for being here today.
My pastor husband has been preaching on Ps. 23 — lead me besides still waters; restore my soul. Sometimes we have to be “led” to still waters so our souls can be restored. Not an easy thing for women in the fast lane, but necessary for that restoration we so desperately long for. Thanks, Betsy, for your words today about taking a break. I hear those still waters calling! Visiting from Grace and Truth.
Those still waters call out to me, too, Debbie. How wonderful that your husband has been preaching on Ps. 23. My favorite.
I absolutely make time for breaks! I learned the necessity of taking regular breaks when I was a caregiver to my husband when he was so sick with cancer. You see, I didn’t take any breaks and I wore myself out and it took almost ten years to recover from his cancer. Although soon after his cancer I started taking breaks, I don’t think I realized that I deserved them for years, so they were guilty breaks that didn’t provide much of a break :/.
I have learned more and more to take breaks. Thanks for the reminder to continue finding time to take breaks before I once and for all break.
Well put, Amy! Taking a break keeps us from working til we break. Definitely true.
Betsy,
I feel blessed that I have the luxury of taking a break in my day. When I worked as a teacher and preschool teacher you couldn’t take a 30 second mental holiday or someone would be into something. A nap is the ultimate luxury, but sitting with a hot cup of coffee for 15 minutes with no real agenda in mind is something I look forward to in the middle of the afternoon. Thanks for easing the guilt trip of taking a break!
Blessings,
Bev
You are right, Bev. We feel guilty when we take a break, don’t we? And I remember that teachers never get to take a break. You’re always “on!”
I work at home, teaching an online course, and I always look forward to my mid-morning coffee break! But lately I find it hard to just take that break — to actually stop, go away from the computer, and enjoy the little “vacation” from work, even if only in the next room. I think I get too hooked on “screen time” and too easily get sucked back into it. I need to be more mindful of that, I think.
I’m with you there, Jeannie. I find myself “taking breaks” at my computer, to look at social media or something fun, but the thing is I don’t feel refreshed afterwards! Just more drained. Going into another room is a great idea. I knew you taught on-line, but didn’t realize it was from home. (Duh, how could I have missed that!!! 🙂 )
It’s funny you mentioning coffee breaks. I always think about how everybody at work gets lunch breaks. It use to be a nice break in the middle of the day to recharge and have nice interaction. Now-a-days I’m lucky if I remember to eat lunch at all. But…I’m learning that it’s important to make time for me. So thanks for the reminder.
You are so right! I didn’t even THINK about lunch breaks. I quickly eat and get back to work. But a break is a great idea. Might have to take a walk or lay down with a book instead!
Love this reminder that we all need to take time to care for ourselves if we want to care well for others – just like Jesus!
May we all be more like Mary.
Blessings to you and yours.
Thank you, Betsy, for this great reminder to take breaks during my day. I oftentimes don’t do that. I just keep plugging along. But when I force myself to stop, to step away from my desk, to take a walk or do something else, my day goes much smoother. Bless you, sweet friend!
I’m like you, friend. Just keep plugging away. But today, I remembered my own post, and actually laid down with a book for 10 minutes in the afternoon. It was so good!
At school we have a ‘conference’ time, which (back in the day) was more of a break time with occasional tasks to complete. Now the conference time is rush from meetings to parent phone calls to private tutoring sessions, etc. I feel so much more productive when I take 15 minutes of that time, close the door to my room, and just sit quietly at my desk! It’s amazing what a little break can do:)
Yes, Kristine, I feel for you school teachers. You are “ON” all day, and really don’t get a break. Hope God provides plenty of opportunities for those 15 minute breaks this week.