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I follow many small business blogs and they frequently share tips for productivity. But lately-in honor of National Relaxation Day on August 15-I’ve been thinking of ditching the spreadsheets, time maps, and to-do lists, and trying to be less productive.
Heidi Stevens wrote a great article for the Chicago Tribune about the “misspent summers” of our youth and how kids are over-scheduled nowadays. I remember those lazy summers well and I say: adults are over-scheduled too. We try to pack productivity into every minute of the day. The pressure’s especially on if you’re a working parent and juggling child care or school schedules.
Downtime is good for your brain
And downtime is not just for fun, it’s been proven to positively affect our brains. According to research, “Downtime gives the [brain] a chance to take the lead and recharge our batteries, allowing us to approach tasks with a fresh perspective and renewed energy.”
My kids are currently on summer break and while it was sometimes hectic coordinating work schedules with camp pick-ups and drop-offs, I thoroughly enjoyed a few unscheduled-and unproductive-days with them. It not only let me rest my work brain but opened me up to new creative ideas.
