It’s no secret that modern life is hectic and filled with a never-ending stream of challenges, work, obligations and demands that sometimes leave us feeling breathless and exhausted. Terms like being “stuck in the rat race” and “burning out” are ever more frequently heard, and even though we employ scores of different helping tools- from modern technology to energy drinks- we actually seem to have less time than ever. Add to this that many companies offer fewer and fewer vacation days while demanding more and longer work days, and you end up with a recipe for a great deal of stress. 

With so much clamoring for our attention, it’s remarkably easy to get stuck in a rut, and we quickly forget the value of taking a “personal time out” so we can just sit still for a moment- or a day or a few weeks- to take stock of our lives and what is going on around us. In psychological terms, doing so is known as “breaking state,” and it allows us to regroup and refocus our efforts and attention.

There is no set definition or time frame for taking a personal time out- it all depends on the situation.

We could be in the middle of a stressful project at work, with a tight deadline. But as the available time to complete the task grows shorter, it actually feels like our brain is slowing down. Although it may seem counterintuitive, often the best thing we can do for ourselves is to step away. Instead of giving in to the temptation to eat at our desk while trying to work, we’re typically *far* better off doing something like grabbing our to-go lunch, finding a quiet spot outside (if the weather is nice) and taking the time to sit down to eat our lunch while doing something “mindless” like simply watching the nearby birds. Sometimes the greatest inspiration and insight comes when we’re thinking about something completely different- and having a “working lunch” with co-workers will probably do far less to help our progress than spending 45 minutes alone.

Sometimes, what we need is an entire day off; a day to simply sit still and let our brains go slack. A lot of people *do* take days off, of course, but often use those days to try to complete an almost impossibly large number of personal errands… thereby largely defeating the entire purpose of taking a day “off;” essentially replacing one kind of stressful day with another. Whereas such an errand running day may leave us with a certain sense of accomplishment, it is hardly relaxing, and doesn’t ultimately qualify as a *true* mental health day. So keep in mind that if you need a day off, it is important to truly make it a day OFF! 

“Taking a time out” takes on much deeper meaning and greater importance when we find ourselves in a place where we begin to realize that we are truly “stuck,” in some major aspect of our life. It could be that our career seems stagnant; maybe we’re in a relationship that feels like it is going nowhere; maybe we’re sick do death of our dingy apartment and annoying landlord, or we simply have a sense that the way we are living our life feels futile and meaningless.

Sadly, many people choose to live on in such a state of discontent, perhaps hoping that things will “right themselves”, then just keep plugging away as they have been. Unfortunately, once you’re in a rut, things seldom change unless you take action, and taking some time to reflect can easily be the best thing you can do help yourself find new direction and inspiration.

Unfortunately, western society and its culture has largely taught us that taking personal time “to think and reflect” is not far from laziness and showing the world that you possess a lacking work ethic. This holds particularly true in the United States, where the amount of work you do is sometimes almost regarded as a “status symbol,” with workers even engaging in inadvertent “water cooler contests” over who logged the greatest number of overtime hours the previous month. But whereas this extreme work ethic may have its positive aspects, it also suggests that people have simply forgotten how to sit still and relax.

If you do find yourself needing to take time away to reflect on a potential major life change, the most important thing to remember is to use your time wisely. Deciding to use two weeks of accrued vacation time to “take stock of your life” and then spending the entire two weeks frantically trying to do ten years’ worth of home improvement projects is probably not going to accomplish much- you will most likely return to the same rut you were in… albeit with a tidier looking house. 

Taking a time out- in its most basic form- is about “stopping the clock” for a while, so you can examine your personal life strategy. So when you *do* take a time out, remember to use your time wisely!