1 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 1: Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the New Corner Office, 2 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: the podcast where we share strategies for thriving in the 3 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: new world of work, where location and hours are more 4 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: flexible than in the past. Today's tip is to plan 5 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: your brakes. When you're working remotely or even just working flexibly, 6 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: you have more autonomy over your hours. You can set 7 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:33,879 Speaker 1: a schedule that maximizes your productivity and your enjoyment of 8 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 1: work in life. A big part of that is figuring 9 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 1: out optimal times for brakes. Now, if you're thinking to yourself, 10 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 1: I don't take breaks, or even if you're thinking I 11 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: don't need breaks, well think again. Traditional offices are distracting places. 12 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,599 Speaker 1: Breaks happened there, whether we seek them out or not, 13 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: and brakes aren't a bad thing. We can all recall 14 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 1: being completely stumped by something. Talk to a colleague about 15 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:05,919 Speaker 1: the weather, drive home, go for a run, or cook dinner, 16 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: and boom, there's the solution. Once we ease up the 17 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: pressure to solve the problem, it seems to solve itself. 18 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: Breaks can do that. When you're working from home. It 19 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 1: pays to be intentional about building in breaks, since casual 20 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 1: interactions in your workplace won't create the breaks for you. 21 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:28,559 Speaker 1: Many people like to have a rough template to follow 22 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:30,479 Speaker 1: most days so that they don't have to plan their 23 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: days from scratch. Over the years, I've noticed that some 24 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:38,040 Speaker 1: schedules work better for optimizing energy than others. As you 25 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: think about your time, aim to work in two to 26 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: three hour chunks punctuated by fifteen to twenty minute breaks, 27 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 1: with one slightly longer break for lunch or a workout. 28 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 1: So for example, maybe you start your day around eight 29 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 1: thirty am, take a ten thirty coffee break to face 30 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 1: time with a friend, work until twelve forty five when 31 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: you get ready, and then go for a thirty minute run, 32 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: then take a three thirty break for a hearty snack. 33 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: Or maybe you like to get up early and seize 34 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: the day. You work from sixty am, break deat breakfast 35 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 1: with the college students who are now home with you, 36 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 1: work until one and then eat lunch with them, and 37 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 1: break around four pm to walk the dog. Whatever your 38 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: specific template, aim to make at least one break physical 39 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: and one break social. Both exercising and socializing boost energy. 40 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 1: If the weather is nice, it's good to get outside 41 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: to chat with a friend by phone as you walk 42 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: around the block or do a yoga video with a 43 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: family member. All of these are great ideas. But here's 44 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 1: what's not a great idea. Thinking you don't need breaks, 45 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: and then finding yourself around three pm reading the same 46 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: email five times in a row. Then you get an 47 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: alert on your phone letting you know that a friend 48 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:57,079 Speaker 1: posted a photo on Facebook. You go check it out, 49 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: read other posts, and wow, is it time for my 50 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:04,559 Speaker 1: four pm call? Already? When you don't take real breaks, 51 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: your brain takes fake breaks, ones that consume time but 52 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 1: aren't actually energizing. Better to enjoy the real deal. Of course, 53 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: some people who work from home like to use brakes 54 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:21,640 Speaker 1: as opportunities to tackle life maintenance tasks. Fifteen minutes here 55 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 1: and there can't afford you a chance to keep the 56 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,839 Speaker 1: laundry moving, to do some dinner prep, or to weed 57 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,640 Speaker 1: a small flower bed. As long as you're getting some 58 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: activity and maybe some sunshine, these can be okay. Just 59 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: make sure that these tasks stay within specific time limits. 60 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 1: As with email and web surfing, housework can expand to 61 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: fill all available space, and if it feels too much 62 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: like drudgery, well then you won't feel rejuvenated, which is 63 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: the point of a break. What's your approach to breaks? 64 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: Have you tried anything memorable lately? I'd love to hear 65 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 1: about it. You can reach me at Laura at Laura 66 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: Vanderkam dot com. In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks 67 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: for listening, and here's to succeeding in the New Corner Office. 68 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: The New Corner Office is a production of I Heart Radio. 69 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 1: For more podcasts, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 70 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your favorite shows.