Why Taking a Break is the Best Thing You Can Do for Yourself
Taking a break is like hitting the snooze button on life—except this time, it's actually good for you! Mentally, it’s a chance for your brain to stop spinning like a hamster on a wheel. When you give yourself permission to pause, your mind finally gets a moment to breathe, process, and maybe even come up with that genius idea you've been too busy to notice.
That’s exactly what I did—I took a break! I hit pause on life, took a deep breath, and even packed my bags for a much-needed vacation. Let me tell you, I absolutely loved not having to do any work. No deadlines, no emails, no stress—just pure, unadulterated relaxation. It was like a dream come true, where the toughest decision I had to make was whether to order another drink by the pool or take a nap in the sun.
“Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.”
I took my mom on a little adventure to Kentucky, and we visited the Ark Encounter. Let me tell you, calling this place amazing is like saying Kentucky makes decent fried chicken—total understatement! The sheer size of the Ark alone blew me away, and the exhibits inside were just as incredible. But what really made the trip special were the people we met along the way and all the fascinating things we learned. It was an experience I'll be talking about for a long time! Even though I clocked in about 4 miles of walking each day, I wasn’t even exhausted! It’s like the excitement of the place had my energy levels on a whole new level. Normally, I’d be ready to collapse after that much walking, but there was just too much to see and enjoy to even think about being tired.
I also picked up a new hobby—crocheting! Who knew that looping yarn together could be so satisfying? Plus, it's a great way to unwind. Now I’m one step closer to becoming the cozy blanket queen of my dreams!
What does taking a break mean for you emotionally and physically?
Emotionally, a break is like hitting the reset button on your feelings. When you’re constantly in go-mode, it’s easy to forget what it feels like to just be. Taking time off lets you reconnect with yourself, clear out the emotional clutter, and remind yourself that it’s okay to feel something other than stress. It’s like giving your heart a much-needed tune-up.
Physically, taking a break is basically your body’s version of sending itself to a spa. Chronic stress is like lugging around a backpack full of bricks all day-seriously, who signed us up for that? But when you finally drop that weight, your muscles loosen up, your energy starts flowing back, and you remember what it feels like to be a human being instead of a frazzled robot.
“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.”
For me, stepping back has done wonders. My mind is clear, my heart is lighter, and my blog… well, it needed a break from me as much as I needed one from it! And now, after all this rest and reflection, I’m ready to conquer the world—or at least tackle my laundry pile. Baby steps!