GTD: How to take a break while still getting stuff done
Have you ever heard that a change is as good as a rest? It’s a phrase I’ve often rolled my eyes at in the past, imagining that a week in the sun must be the only possible cure for my brain-death.
In fact, although we all need a certain amount of rest to recuperate, it can often be incredibly stimulating to start doing something else. Anyone who has ever been a student will know that some essays are painfully boring and therefore hard to write. As an undergraduate I would deal with dull essays haphazardly, often writing them overnight in one go just before the deadline. The results would often be mediocre and not a great morale boost for the next essay or piece of coursework.
Now I write advertising copy, blog posts, SEO reports, Tweets and all kinds of stuff for clients. I don’t accept projects that I think will bore me but because some of the writing is technical and requires a lot of research it’s not uncommon for me to experience a touch of brain-freeze. In cases like these what you need to do is come up with a small list of things that you know will wake your brain up and get you back on track. I find it best to keep the list small so that you don’t waste too much time deciding which one to do when you feel the brain-freeze begin.
Here’s my list:
- Write some more of my novel (with a sensible time limit so that it won’t take over too much of my important schedule)
- Solve one sudoku puzzle
- Check one smaller job off the to do list
By doing smaller, less important jobs, you can help break up your day whilst staying productive. If you can stay productive you won’t lose momentum and you won’t kill morale which will help you finish the bigger, more important, more mind-boggling job!
PS. I know that strictly speaking, solving a sudoku puzzle does not constitute a job but it is part of my brain training plan to keep my mind active so I hope you’ll let me off for that one!
- Taking a break - Kathryn Wright
Anthony Feint 11 Nov 09
Great post! I keep a list of small jobs that can be completed at anytime and have no deadline. When I find myself losing focus I do one of these tasks – but sometimes is also best to take a complete break away from everything
Rachel 11 Nov 09
Glad you liked it! Keeping a list makes it easier to stay productive and organised.