A dull knife sucks, right?
To cut a tomato, sharp knives are crucial… otherwise, it’s laborious and frustrating. And rather than suffer with the dull knife, it’s easier to take a few minutes and sharpen it. Even if you’re in a time crunch, a few minutes to sharpen the knife can save you time cutting the tomato, make your task more effective – and possibly even prevent you from cutting your finger!
This concept is also true with your brain.
You know those days when you don’t feel quite as “sharp” as others? Perhaps it takes longer to perform a task than you expect, or conceptualizing big ideas becomes more laborious. Consider, when was the last time you “sharpened the saw” of your mental skills?
The only way to sharpen a tool is to stop using it for a bit.
One of the most critical and underlying facets of taking a break or a vacation is to “sharpen the saw”.
Giving your brain a refresh can be as simple as a brisk walk around the block or a power nap on your lunch. However, it can also take the form of time away… you know… vacation!
So today, commit to giving your brain a mini-break to sharpen the mental saw.
Go for a walk or do a 10-minute meditation. And then notice the difference in your mental acuity afterward. And next time you take a vacation, allow your brain to “stop working” so has time to be sharpened.