The title of a post I read recently in Forbes was a little misleading: Want to Succeed? Don’t Check Your Email – and Work Out at Lunch. But never mind that, because what writer Erika Andersen actually had to say was interesting and worthwhile.
Don’t get me wrong — I would agree that, when it comes time to focus on writing or whatever task is at hand, checking email can get in the way and serve as a major distraction. I also agree that it’s healthy and in many ways necessary to take breaks during one’s work day — which can include working out at lunch.
But Andersen’s article was actually more interesting than the title lead me to believe. It was about a company called Bandwidth that has some unusual policies for its employees. For one, when they go on vacation, they are banned from communicating with anyone at work. The point is to take a break — not continue to work during down time. Cofounder and CEO David Morken is adamant about this point.
Another Bandwidth policy involved 90-minute lunches. Sounds good, right? And this is where that ‘working out at lunch’ concept fits in — the company actually encourages employees to take a good, full break during lunch, so they come back refreshed and, as a result, are much more attentive and productive.
So what does this have to do with writing and storytelling? Well, whether you work for a company or for yourself, the point is the same: take breaks. These include short breaks on a daily basis, and longer breaks over the course of time. We are not machines, we need that down time to reset ourselves. Try it the next time you feel blocked — take a break (go out to lunch, walk around the neighborhood, see a movie). You might just be surprised how your thought process and creative energy feel refreshed and begin to open up again.