Vetnews | Mei 2025 42 « BACK TO CONTENTS Influential Life Coaching THE RIGHT BREAK Dr Mats Abatzidis B.Sc. B.V.Sc. New Insights Certified VIP Life Coach mats.abatzidis@yahoo.co.za Founder of Influential Life Coaching http://www.matsaba.wix.com/drmatscoach Author of the published book “Life outside your comfort zone. Better and beyond all expectations”. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=searchalias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=Abatzidis http://www.life-coach-directory.co.za/mats-abatzidis Vet's Health I Life Coaching I hope this article finds you and your families well and safe!!! Last month we looked at taking a step backwards to move forward. This month we will look at taking the right break for you, whatever is defined by you, and nobody else. I once met a fellow public speaker who shared with me that they needed to take a break every 10 weeks because that was what worked best for them. At first, I was shocked. It seemed too frequent. Then I thought about it and realised that maybe this colleague knows themselves better than I know myself, listens to their body and is probably putting rest for their mind and body as a priority. The interval will vary from person to person and what stress levels they are exposed to. Taking a break from work is essential, and yet many people leave their vacation time unused. Planning a vacation, staycation, or playcation, is essential to take a break from your daily routine or job, and the associated demands/stress. A disclaimer for perfectionists like me, when you take a break, you’re not avoiding responsibility. You’re taking care of yourself, so you’ll have the ability to be your best later. It is important to know ourselves, by learning the signs that you need a break (like my colleague was so diligent about) and knowing when to schedule some time away to help you feel refreshed and restored. Taking a break from work is vital if you want to manage stress and avoid burnout (an all-too-common occurrence in today’s world). Signs that you might need to take a break include feeling cynical, irritable, exhausted, or withdrawn. Taking a break, vacation or just a short break during the day, you can come back to your work with a fresher, more rested mind. Here are the risks of not taking breaks: the body is designed to respond to short bursts of stress. When stress is prolonged, and the stress response is triggered repeatedly and regularly—as can happen in a stressful job or a conflict-ridden relationship—the situation turns into one of chronic stress (headaches, hypertension, gastrointestinal problems, heart disease, stroke), chronic fatigue (everything takes energy, including enjoying positive events), burnout (exhausted, unproductive, depressed) and real health problems can set in. Key signs (everyone responds to stress differently) you need a break include altered eating habits, cynicism about work, frustration, difficulty concentrating (brain fog), frequent illness, lack of energy/motivation, headaches/stomach aches, poor performance at work, sleep disturbances, substance abuse to cope with stress, withdrawing from friends/family/co-workers/social events. Talk to your doctor/ therapist or a mental health professional if these symptoms persist even after you take a break. The benefits of taking a break from work outweigh the risks usually: vacations or even shorter breaks (like an afternoon off) can bring many rewards. • Avoid the vicious cycle: interrupt/break the cycle of stress that can lead to being overwhelmed. • Restoration: restore yourself physically and mentally to a healthier place. • Clear brain fog: chronic stress leads to decreased creativity, memory problems, and other issues. A break in the cycle can lead to sharper thinking and increased creativity. • Improved productivity: better at your job, more available in your relationships, more energetic, and capable of enjoying life. Types of breaks: 1. A vacation is a real break and taking a vacation is more important than many people realize. That’s why many vacation days go unused when they should be enjoyed to the fullest. Prioritize rest and fun without excessive tourist activities; do not bring work with you if possible; the effort required to plan your vacation (even though you are tired) will be more than rewarded by the health benefits you will gain.
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