W.I.N. Wednesday: Be careful not to fracture the force of the mind.

"The mind must be given relaxation. It will rise improved and sharper after a good break. Just as rich fields must not be forced...so constant work on the anvil will fracture the force of the mind."

Seneca

In today’s world where people are working from home and are reluctant to turn off their cell phones or shut down their e-mail in case the boss wants to get ahold of them, you are at risk of “fracturing the force of the mind”. You see people who cannot leave work behind when they go on vacation. You see people who are continually checking their phone when they are out to dinner or spending time with family or friends. If this is you, you are at risk of “fracturing the force of the mind”.

You need to give your mind relaxation. That might mean letting your boss and your peers know that you will not be checking e-mail after a certain time, or executing a digital shutdown where you turn off all your devices at a certain time of day and just read, or listen to music or play board games or some other activity that allows you to relax your mind. 

If you read books on a tablet it can be tempting to be continually checking your e-mail or text messages so you may need to get a basic Kindle e-reader or similar device that does not have access to the internet, or e-mail or incoming text messages. 

You may need to schedule time each day to meditate, do breathe work, listen to your favorite music or go for a walk outside without your headphones in. You might use your workout time as an opportunity to relax your mind while you build a stronger body. You might set aside the non-fiction reading you are doing for school or work and spend a little time every day reading fiction books. 

The science suggests that 90-minute blocks of deep focus, or deep work followed by a period of relaxation for the mind may be the best for both productivity and learning. 

It is too easy to get caught up in always be “on”. While it may make you feel like you are being super productive, there is often a price to pay. 

Simple? Yes. Easy? No. Important? Yes. 

What’s Important Now? Remember, the mind must be given relaxation. It will rise improved and sharper after a good break.

Take care.

Brian Willis

www.lifesmostpowerfulquestion.com. Maximizing human potential through Life's Most Powerful Question - What's Important Now?

www.daretobegreatleadership.com The online Dare to Be Great: Strategies for Creating a Culture of Leading workshop was created to help aspiring leaders and frontline leaders on their leadership journey. Subscribe to the weekly blog while you are there. 

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