Relax!
Many people can easily overwork out of a desire to increase their performance; however, the number of hours may not always match the quality of work. Switch your mind off and allow yourself time just to let your thoughts wander. This will significantly help your creativity.
Dreaming is often considered the opposite of work but this by no means the case. Your subconscious is a powerful problem solver: while your focused mind is at rest, the subconscious is still active, working on ideas and solving even the most complex puzzles.
Research from the University of British Columbia has found that our brains are incredibly busy when dreaming. In fact, more parts of the brain are involved during this time than when focusing on work.
So the next time you feel guilty about wanting to rest so you can read an article, meditate or go for a walk, remember that you are actually refuelling in order to be more creative and productive.
Stay in the present
Due to the connectivity offered by mobile devices, it is difficult to break free from the virtual world. If you're on vacation, resist the temptation to check e-mails. If you want to relax and disconnect mentally when not at work, you should "anchor" your tasks. Whether you write them down or store them in a task management application, it's important they be out of your head and in secure storage until you return.
Understand your circadian rhythms
In a digitally connected world, you don't have to work between 9:00 and 17:00. Our circadian rhythm is an organic, internal process that naturally regulates our sleep and wake cycle. It varies from person to person, so some are early birds and others are night owls; we each have different performance at different times of the day. Knowing your own rhythm can be the key to getting the most out of your working day and having time to rest as well.
Absence of sleep means accumulation of sleep debt, which can be difficult to repay later. Sleep deprivation has numerous consequences, especially in terms of cognitive function. Adjusting your time to work during periods of peak vigilance should allow you to relax properly in your free time, knowing you have done your best during the day or even at night.
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