Overview of A.C. Shilton’s Article “How to Tell When Your Brain Needs a Break”
A.C. Shilton’s article, published in the New York Times, discusses the importance of taking breaks and recognizing when your brain needs a break. It emphasizes that breaks are necessary to maintain focus and productivity and that taking a break can improve performance. Shilton shows several signs that the brain may need a break, such as feeling overwhelmed, unfocused, physically tired, and making mistakes (Shilton, 2023).
It also discusses the benefits of taking breaks, including increased creativity, improved memory, and reduced stress. One can find tips for taking adequate breaks, such as engaging in physical activity or short naps. It also emphasizes that they should be intentional and planned rather than simply taking a moment to check social media or browse the internet. As there are many distractions in the modern world, Shilton warns that it is necessary to take regular breaks to save and enhance the brain’s abilities of focused thinking and creativity.
Strategies for Giving Your Brain a Break
I use meditation, breathing practices, physical activity, and naps to give my brain a break. Meditations are helpful, as they enable me to relax my consciousness and distract from my current routines while not losing contact with my thoughts. After meditating for 10 – 20 minutes, I feel much better, as my brain releases all unnecessary information while proceeding with the necessary one much more efficiently.
Breathing practices help relax the body and give the brain oxygen, reducing tiredness. After 5 – 10 minutes of them, my brain activity feels like I recharged it: it is much more precise and focused, which means my break is successful (Shilton, 2023). Physical activity changes my attention to the physical world from the mental one and improves the brain’s oxygen supply. Lastly, short naps after the mid-day are beneficial, recharging me for less than 45 minutes, according to A.C. Shilton’s article.
Reference
Shilton, A. C. (2023). How to Tell If Your Brain Needs a Break. The New York Times. Web.