Unplug to Power Up: How to Boost Productivity and Mental Rejuvenation by Disconnecting?

As summer break approaches, the US and France teams at Consulting Quest eagerly anticipate the long-awaited respite. It is an opportune moment to shed light on the importance of taking a break – a break that entails complete disengagement from work.

During holidays, it is common for individuals to succumb to the temptation of checking office emails and messages. These practices totally undermine the true purpose of a vacation. Whether you are an entrepreneur teetering on the brink of burnout or a fresh-faced professional striving for excellence r, this blog aims to change your perception of free time.

In this blog, we will address two fundamental questions: Why is it crucial to detach ourselves from work regularly? And how can we simply unplug ourselves from the constant noise of professional life? Let’s start by exploring the productivity benefits of unplugging.

#1. Adequate Breaks Can Prevent Burnout

As executives and working professionals, you must constantly make decisions, devise plans of action, and manage high-risk circumstances. Burnout becomes substantially more likely in the absence of adequate breaks. Taking regular breaks allows you to recharge your batteries, step away from the continual demands, and prevent the accumulation of stress that can lead to exhaustion and decreased performance.

“The more ways we have to connect, the more many of us seem desperate to unplug.” ― Pico Iyer, British-born American essayist and novelist

#2. Strategic Breaks Allow Enhanced Focus and Productivity

Contrary to the popular opinion that continuous work leads to higher productivity, research shows that breaks enhance focus and overall productivity. By periodically stepping back from work, you allow your mind an opportunity to relax, refocus, and recharge. This rejuvenation enables you to return to work with heightened clarity, improved cognitive abilities, and an increased capacity for effective decision-making.

“Work is important, but you also need to disconnect, to unplug at times, in order to be even more concentrated when you do work.” ― Massimiliano Allegri, former Italian professional football player

#3. Disconnecting Helps to Strike a Harmonious Work-life Equilibrium

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial for long-term success and personal fulfillment. By taking breaks and disconnecting from work, you create an opportunity to prioritize and engage in activities that bring joy, relaxation, and fulfillment outside of the professional sphere. This equilibrium improves overall job satisfaction and performance while also promoting mental health.

“Don’t get so caught up in being accessible to the world that you become inaccessible to your family.”- Anonymous

How Can You Optimize the Utilization of These Breaks and Ensure Effective Disconnection?

Schedule Breaks at Predetermined Intervals

Establish frequent breaks as non-negotiable commitments and incorporate them into your daily agenda. Give these times the same importance as any other business engagement and schedule time specifically for recharge and rejuvenation.

“If you will only pause, as you hurry through your days, take a minute to look at passersby, beyond cursory skin-deep analysis, all the way into their eyes, what beauty you might find woven from the life threads there.”― Ellen Hopkins, American novelist

Turn off Notifications

During breaks, turn off or keep your devices’ notifications on silent to totally unplug. You may disconnect from work-related distractions and establish a continuous environment for relaxation and mental renewal by engaging in this practice.

Find Activities That Allow You to Fully Unwind

Take part in activities that allow you to completely disconnect from work. This might involve engaging in activities like physical activity, hobbies, mindfulness exercises, or spending quality time with loved ones. Experiment with several activities to discover which ones best enable you to unwind and refresh.

“Go for a walk outdoors. Reconnect with the feeling of the wind blowing through your hair. Listen to the birds that live in a tree in your yard. Watch the sunset. Take time to smell the flowers that bloom in the park during the summer. The natural world is just as natural as it ever was, except there’s less of it than there was twenty-five years ago – and most of us don’t make a point of enjoying it often enough.” ― Skye Alexander, Award-winning Author

Have a Proper Lunch Break

Don’t undervalue the value of a good lunch break. Step away from your desk, have a healthy lunch, and take part in something non-related to work. In order to be more productive for the remainder of the day, this break offers a chance for physical renewal, mental clarity, and social interactions.

“Not having to eat my daily lunch on a Tupperware is a much stronger deciding factor for choosing my occupation than a mere high salary.” ― Rodolfo Peon, Author

But How to Balance Work and Rest While Working from Home? Let’s Find Out

When it comes to remote work, how does the concept of unplugging work? Well, at consulting Quest, we can teach you a thing or two about setting boundaries and resisting the temptation to work beyond the specified hours.

As the champions of remote working mode, who can know the importance of disconnecting better than us? Even within the confines of our home offices, unplugging remains a pivotal factor contributing to both personal contentment and professional efficacy.

As remote workers, we sometimes get hit by a sudden burst of the urge to take breaks during office hours. We are missing out on the crazy pleasure of restroom gossip and fag breaks, you see! So, how do we handle those sudden impulses to step away from the computer?

We once asked our wonderful CEO, Helene, how she disconnects from work on a typical day. Well, she said she makes herself a big cup of tea (she happens to be a serious tea enthusiast) and goes out for a stroll along with her furry child. She calls it therapeutic and utterly enjoyable.

Ronald, our team’s content wizard, shared his secret to refueling his intellectual cells: doodling. He picks up some paper and markers and lets his creative juices flow when he’s bored or under pressure. Isn’t it an amazing way to relax and let your imagination run wild?

It’s fascinating to see how everyone has their own unique ways of taking a break from continuous work. Whether it’s a quirky method or a tried-and-true approach, we encourage you not to give it up. Embrace the art of disconnection and make the most of your off-screen time.

By honing this skill, you’ll find yourself more productive and refreshed in the long run. So go ahead, indulge in your personal way of disengaging, and let it fuel your future success.