One of the most valuable lessons I ever learned -- but that I have an unfortunate habit of forgetting when engrossed in my classwork -- is from Edwin Bliss, a career counselor and psychologist, and author of one of my favorite books on career/life guidance.
Bliss's advice is simple:
Remember to take a break.
Because if you don't take one, then you will ...
And Bliss is absolutely right.
Whenever I get so busy that I forget to take a break, I eventually "break."
Thankfully, "breaking" for me comes in the form of a cold or a flu -- something that I bounce back from fairly quickly. But while I have the flu, I'm completely miserable, and not only physically, but mentally, if only because the flu fouls up all my grand schemes and plans. When I have the flu, it's very hard for me to do any sort of productive homework, and very few chores -- so the flu does exactly what it is supposed to do to me: it forces me to "break."
I don't advise getting the flu as an effective time management strategy -- in fact, I prefer not to get it at all! -- and it's not something anyone should ever look forward to. But the one positive thing I can say about getting the flu is that -- in between fits of coughing and sneezing and stumbling to the restroom -- you find yourself with ample downtime to reflect on how you've overstepped your limits, what's left to be done, what's essential and what's not, how to tackle the project more humanely, how to get back on track, and how to get well soon.
This week was largely spent doing just that.
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