On Making Your Break Productive: An Afterthought

(While Still Having a Break)

By Dennis PhelanJanuary 12, 2014

Agenda

Introduce the conundrum

Provide recommendations

Go in depth with the problem

Critique solutions But wait (Conclusion)

Introduction

Hallelujah, winter/summer/Labor Day is upon us!

I’m going sleep so much but also get a head start

ZZZZZ

…(Alarm buzzes) Oh crap, school/work is tomorrow

What I should have done…

Source: Google Images

Solution: Three Options

Option 1

The “I’m still in school/work mode just keep trucking” approach

Option 2

The “No Sleep Till [Morning]” approach

Option 3

The “Reward Yourself” approach

Transcendent across options

Make a list of all you want to accomplish

Create a timeline for when to accomplish what

Stick to your timeline!…

…But wait

Source: Google Images

Problem

You have so much time over a holiday break

Some of that time goes wasted to Netflix back corners

Lack of motivation impedes getting a jumpstart

……But wait

Source: Google Images…and Dreamstime

Option 1: “Keep Trucking”

Ride on your high from your last days of work

Go to a Barnes & Noble/Starbucks/hipster coffee spot

Crank out the work for the first week/days/hours

Enjoy your break!

…….But wait

Source: Google Images

Option 2: “No Sleep till [Morning]”

Work during the early a.m. hours to avoid daily distractions

Sleep during most of the day to recuperate

Repeat until finished

Get back on regular sleep schedule

Enjoy your break!

………But wait

Source: Google Images

Option 3: “Reward Yourself”

Give yourself normal working hours (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.)

Plan something fun with friends or family in the evening

Finish work a little before going back to the grind

Enjoy your truly free last days/hours!

…………But wait

Source: Google Images

Conclusion

So there you have it, three possible options for making your break productive and getting a head start on

BUT WAIT!

Confused

……

Thinking It Over

……You know, looking over all of this, it appears I forgot the fundamental meaning of the word “break.”

/brāk/ - a pause in work… (Google)

Yup.

All right don’t rub it in

Sorry. Continue.

Source: Google Images

Conclusion (for real this time)

Whether you are productive or not, breaks are built in for all of us to take a breather during this marathon of life.

However you want to spend your break, be it:Working someCatching up with friendsCatching up on TV shows Sleeping

That’s ultimately up for you to decide

Source: Google Images

My Advice Though

I would just recommend if you had a rough time leading up to your break, spend your last few days getting into the groove of things and getting a head start.

…

And that can be simply just looking at your stuff! I’m not saying hunker down and get back in the grind.

Good.

…All that I am saying, is just make your future breaks easier so you can rest even more!

• There, is that better?Yup!

Source: Google Images