Americans say their mental health is declining, according to a recent Gallup poll. One potential reason is that few of us take time to recharge or even take a daily break. With today’s go-go mindset, finding time to relax each day can be challenging. Here are a few reasons why taking a break is so important.
 
It's Good for Your Brain

Professional work can be exciting, enjoyable, and challenging. It can also be exhausting, intense, and draining. It’s easy to let work take over your life. Especially now, as many professionals work remotely or in a hybrid setting, it’s easy for your personal and professional worlds to overlap. As a result, you may find that you’re not separating from work effectively, and you’re not taking time to recharge. Taking a break is key to being your best at work and at home. Here are a few reasons why taking time out to recharge is so important.
 

In this world of hybrid and remote work, the ongoing pandemic, and the great resignation, work can be a stressful place. It certainly looks very different than it did a year ago, and many of your elders might not even recognize the workplace as you know it today. In the modern workplace, it’s easy to become stressed, and hard to find your work-life balance. If this is the case, look to your Native traditions to help ground you, and bring some calm back into your life.
 
Connect with Mother Earth

Today’s professional workplace may seem vastly different from those your elders were a part of. Everyone is looking to work faster, with fewer resources. Regardless of how well-equipped you are, you can easily find yourself overwhelmed, stressed, and sorely lacking work-life balance. While you may not be able to change everything about your work life, look to your Native traditions to help you manage stress and create more balance. Here are a few ways to do just that.