Refuel, before you burn out

by Suzanne Zoglio

Overworked? Underappreciated? A bit stressed out? If so, you may be thinking you need a holiday! But what if you can't take that holiday for several weeks? You need it now. You need it bad. Don't wait. Instead, take a holiday in place - a restorative refuelling break. Okay, that's not the same as a week at the beach, but it'll keep you from burning out completely or from being too exhausted to move when you finally do take time off

The problem with our 24/7 society is that most of us think in all-or-nothing terms. At weekends, we relax, rest and play. But then comes Monday, and we go non-stop, leaving all relaxing behind. Suppose that instead, whenever your energy waned (for most of us that's about every two hours) you stopped and gave your battery a ten-minute charge. Your productivity would climb, your stress would diminish and you might even feel like going out with friends during the week. See if any of these recharging breaks appeal to you.

Take a Power Nap
When you find yourself yawning in the middle of a conversation, it's time to surrender! Lock your door, take the phone off the hook and set your alarm for ten minutes. Sit in a chair with your feet propped up, stretch out on a rug or curl up on a sofa. Close your eyes, take a few deep, slow breaths and rest - just as if you were out in a hammock taking an old-fashioned, lazy-days-of-summer nap. Hey, if it worked for Edison and Einstein, it just might refresh your inner genius too!

Indulge Yourself
Think about a treat that you haven't had in a while - one so delicious that just thinking about it makes you smile. Today, don't settle for any substitutes or next-best things. Take a break from all things practical, and go find exactly what you want. It might be a childhood treat that you once adored, like chocolate dipped in a tall glass of cold milk. What makes your mouth water? Walk the extra block to get what you really want.

Wash Away the Stress
What better way to escape for a quick respite than to find some water? It can be soothing, sensual, quiet or stimulating. Whether you bathe in it, play in it, listen to it or drink it, water is very therapeutic. If you can take a quick shower, do. If it's warm and happens to be raining, take a walk, lifting your face to the raindrops. Sit by an outdoor fountain or bring a small desktop variety to work. If you're near the sea, stop to listen; if not, listen to a tape of the ocean waves. As you indulge your senses, imagine the water washing away any stress - toxic people, toxic thoughts, toxic fears.

Engage in Holiday Play
One of the problems with all-or-nothing thinking is that we engage in certain activities only on holiday, when we could enjoy them anytime. True, you can't scuba dive in your garden or go deep-sea fishing from your office window, but there are many holiday-type activities that you can do anywhere. Stop and read one chapter of a beach novel, or work on a crossword puzzle for ten minutes. Practise your putting or ask the office 'pro' for a few pointers. Chat with someone you care about. Share a few jokes. By briefly disengaging, you'll be more mentally alert when you resume. Ever notice how solutions come to you in the shower, on a run or when you're weeding the garden? That's the power of a mini break. If you spend ten minutes a day 'playing', by the end of the year you will have holidayed a total of 61 hours - more than one full work week!

Laugh Out Loud
When you're feeling weary, is there any better recharger than a belly laugh? Laughter not only lifts your spirit, but new research indicates it burns calories as well. Need help? Tell a joke or ask someone else to tell you one. Read today's comics, buy someone a Dilbert card or flip through your Larson calendar until you experience a true belly laugh. That's not working? Remember the time you led the entire school assembly - with your zip open - or something equally mortifying? It's impossible to laugh and feel burdened at the same time. Don't wait for holiday to refuel. Do it now, wherever you are!