Why It Is Important to Take Some Time Out to Play

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a mere toy.” – Maria Edgeworth

Nothing could be further from the truth conveyed by this proverb. If all you care about in life is work, over time, you will become both bored and boring. Not only that, you will also jeopardize important relationships in your life. If you feel that you cannot afford to take a break from work in order to play and have fun, here are compelling reasons that you need to do so.

Taking Timeout from Work Refreshes Your Mind

Do you know that your brain has a reset button the way your computer does? As a matter of fact, the human brain is the main inspiration for the computer’s CPU or central processing unit. And just like your CPU, your brain needs a reboot regularly in order to refresh the data. The long hours you spend working each day may be good for your company, but it’s not good for your brain. Causing your brain to overwork on a daily basis will hasten the onset of ageing-related cognitive decline. For this reason, always find time to take a break from work. Don’t wait for your next vacation, because taking advantage of daily office breaks is enough to refresh your memory and concentration.

Playing Takes Away Work-Related Stress

Nothing in this world can get rid of stress quickly than a good playtime. Whether it’s playing your favorite sport with your friends, or playing your favorite video game with your kids, you can rest assured that the activity is enough to trigger the release of ‘feel-good’ chemicals such as endorphins in your body. The main role of endorphins is to lessen your sensitivity to pain, but it can also stimulate an overall sense of wellbeing that can help get rid of work-related stress.

Taking a Break from Work Increases Your Productivity

Most of us have a formula for productivity similar to this:

More Work = More Results

However, do you know that not taking a break from work actually leads to unproductivity? The real key to productivity is to work smarter, not harder and longer. This means focusing on completing a certain task within a certain time frame. Whenever you take a break from work, you are doing your brain a favor by letting it rest. Even geniuses such as Einstein and Beethoven have been found to make it a habit of taking daily walks as a means to take some timeout from work. Speaking of daily walks, walking is one of the best ways to increase the flow of blood to the brain and enhance brain nerve connectivity that boosts creativity.

Playing Keeps You Feeling Young and Vigorous

As the saying goes, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.” There’s just something about playing that transports us from our present moment to the time when we were kids and worried about nothing, but what games we would play next. Playing does not only boost your energy and verve, it also increases your resistance to common illnesses, helping you maintain your best self.

Taking a Break to Play to Strengthens Your Relationships

You will know that you have been working too long and too hard if you come home one day and your child doesn’t recognize you anymore. There is nothing more heartbreaking than such a scenario, so if you want to maintain the bond that strengthens your relationship with your loved ones, see to it that you find time to take a break from work and play. Play is not only a tool to help you enjoy, but is also a way for you to keep your relationship fresh. By taking a break from work on purpose just to spend time with your partner and your kids, you are showing your family that you value them more than anything else in the world.