How to Take a BreakSample

In western culture, the number of hours you work in a week gives you bragging rights. It seems as if the 40-hour workweek isn’t enough for you to say, “I’ve put in a long week.” Working 50 or more hours seems normal for a lot of people and I encourage you as you evaluate your time to think differently. It’s not about how many hours you worked, it’s about how you filled your hours. 

Humans do not have batteries that never die. We need rest for our bodies and for our minds. John Brandon says, “if you feel like there's a constant battle for your attention, you are not alone.” 

For these reasons we need to set breaks for ourselves regularly. When I talk about regular breaks I don’t mean every few days or a once-a-year vacation. Our brains need to pause from our work frequently. Approaching a task after you’ve stepped away for a few minutes often allows us to look at things with a new perspective or new ideas. At the very least, coming back to work after stepping away gives us the mental capacity to continue.

Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 12:12, “Of many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.” Imagine feeling information overload during an age when books were the only information input available. Now, between the internet and multiple social media apps, TV, co-workers, and email, we are bombarded with information. This is why it’s especially important to be focused on Jesus. Plant yourself in the Bible for it says, “The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed; they are given by the shepherd,” (Ecclesiastes 12:11). Jesus gives us rest and keeps us focused on him. We must be international to allow Jesus to work in our lives. 

The 7-Minute Productivity Solution is a book that will help you to structure your priorities and breaks so your focus on Christ is unwavering. Taking regular breaks will help you thrive. However, this book isn’t designed to help give you a short-term solution. This book and the principles it gives are for a lifelong shift in how you approach your work. Scripture tells us to “Work with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward,” (Colossians 3:23-24).

Want to learn more about productivity with purpose? Visit https://sevenminutesolution.com for a sneak peek of John Brandon’s book The 7-Minute Productivity Solution which will launch in January 2022. To sign-up for the newsletter and enter to win a copy of the book, visit: https://sevenminutesolution.com/get-ready-for-productivity-with-purpose.