An inclination can be to sit at my computer forging forward….for hours at a time. Ugg, so many hours at a time, I sit there. We tend to think that by staying focused on a task that we will be more productive. More time and attention equals more work done, right? Instead it is important to take breaks. In their research on the effects of taking breaks, Kim, Park, and Niu (2017) found that relaxation and social activities reduced the effects of work demands. I would add that surrounding ourselves with color, shapes, and textures that we enjoy further add to the positive effect of taking breaks.
Specifically, I find restoration and inspiration in looking at art. If I’m stuck, feeling drained, or simply need a break, I’ll look at a piece of art - the images, colors, textures, even the person who made it can transform me to another place. I find myself creating a story within the piece as a way to understand what the art is saying. All too often as I do so, I’ll feel a release, a sense of freedom and then it’ll come to me, I’ll have an aha moment about whatever it is that I was stuck about or I’ll see a new way forward in a situation I’m trying to figure out. Inspiration comes from being inspired.
Art by Debra Goldman
Kim S, Park Y, & Niu Q. (2017). Micro-break activities at work to recover from daily work demands. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 38(1):28–44. http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/job.2109