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I was just in my office trying to write this blog post, and nothing was coming to me. I got distracted, did some other things, and opened up this blog to discover an empty page. This frustrated me, and I yelled, “I still have to write my blog? Gol’ dang it!” I was stressed. However, shortly thereafter, the music I was listening to changed songs. Alexa had been playing classical music which ordinarily helps me work, yet today it was not aiding me. But when the song changed, I realized what I must do. The new song was Arvo Pärt’s “Spiegel im Spiegel.” This is quite possibly my most favorite song. It never fails to soothe me. It is so relaxing. When it came on, I knew what I needed to do was just sit and let the song soothe me. I sat down in a chair and listened to the song. I did not have my phone out. I just sat there. It was exactly what I needed. In short, I needed to take a break.
Those of us with ADHD need to take frequent breaks. Our brains have to work extra hard to achieve the same results as our counterparts in the workplace. This tires our brains. We get tired easily, and that means frequent breaks are a necessity. When I was trying to write my blog post I had been working for a couple hours straight. I was tired and stressed, so when I opened up this post and saw a blank page, I flipped. Luckily, Apple Music played “Spiegel im Spiegel,” and it was like I was Alexander Hamilton and Arvo Pärt was Eliza Hamilton, begging me to “Take a Break.” Unlike the founding father, I listened and took a break. This has re-energized me to work.
You may be wondering at this point: What makes a good break? It is hard to say for certain, but I know a few things that do not a good break make.
Bathroom Break
Simply going to the bathroom and immediately going back to work is not a sufficient break. Your brain has not had time to transition from work to something relaxing. If you are like me, you will still be thinking about work as the urine leaves your body. Instead of taking your break when you need to relieve yourself, find another time that is not a biological necessity.
Screen Time
For most of us, staring at a screen all day is what we do. Our break time should not involve screen time either. Take a page out of my book. Find a relaxing song and chair, close your eyes, and let the music soothe you. It does not need to be “Spiegel im Spiegel” (but I challenge you to find a more relaxing song). However, your song must be long enough to give you a reset. “Spiegel im Spiegel” is quite a long song, so it was the perfect length for me. Looking at screen while you do this will negate the relaxing feeling. So many things on your phone or computer are begging for your attention. Take the moment of your break to truly disconnect from what is causing you stress.
Lunch Time
Okay, lunch time is a necessary break, but do not rely solely on lunch for a break. You should be taking more breaks than just lunch. If you are just starting the practice of giving yourself a break, start small. Do something tiny in the morning and afternoon to give yourself a brain rest. It can be hard to remember to do this, but it is necessary. Moreover, many people use lunch time to communicate with others. A break can be people time if that is what you need. (Just try not to talk about stressful topics.) However, if you are an introvert like me, you want your alone time at break time.
Alex, Do YOU Always Take Breaks?
Am I hypocrite? You bet your bippy I am. I rarely take the type of breaks I have written about today. However, let this blog post be a wakeup call for both you and me. Let us vow to take more breaks to reinvigorate our ADHD brains. Our sanity depends on it.
