When you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who is juggling a million responsibilities, taking a break can often make one feel…guilty. But, breaks aren’t supposed to be that way!
For decades, society has glorified “hustle culture.” The idea that if you just push a little harder, do a little more, stay a bit longer, or constantly work towards your goals, you’ll get closer to where you want to be.
Some hustle by learning new skills, others hustle by sharpening their existing ones.
The most common idea of someone hustling is when they pickup extra part-time jobs to earn more money. They tell themselves that staying busy will help them open new doors to a brighter future.
The message is clear: to always hustle is to always move forward. If you pause with “no good reason”, you risk being labeled as lazy.
But here’s the truth: Breaks aren’t lazy. Stopping for a moment doesn’t make you lazy.
What makes you lazy is purposely avoiding the necessary effort to get what you want despite having the energy and capability to do it.
Breaks are essential for your mental, emotional, and even physical well-being.
I’ve been living this hard lesson firsthand.
This past semester, balancing student life with teaching responsibilities has felt like a never-ending race. Between classes, assignments, part-time jobs, and social obligations, it often felt like there was no room to breathe.
That there was barely even space to just exist.
I told myself that the harder I pushed, the better results I’d get. I told myself this FOR YEARS – until burnout hit me like a wall in October and November.
The burnout was so intense that even during my fall break from teaching, I couldn’t fully enjoy my time off. My mind was still thinking about my upcoming assignments enough to make me fearful and anxious.
I found myself mentally exhausted, struggling to be present in what should’ve been restorative moments.
My productivity dropped as a university student and as a teacher.
My focus slipped and I would mentally be elsewhere.
My social life reduced to nothing because I was always busy.
My head had the constant thought of “I should be doing something.”
I was in so bad of a state that my number one song for this past year was “Damocles” by Sleep Token.
But something shifted.
After I passed my class with a 96, I became determined to do something that I wanted during my time away from university. While my break as a university student is still going on, this break didn’t make me lazy.
Instead, it rejuvenated my energy enough to spark my creativity and restored my focus me to have the drive in returning back to this blog.
So, you see…
Breaks aren’t lazy. They’re essential tools for working smarter, not harder.
The best part? You don’t need an expensive vacation to make yourself feel restored.
Even small, intentional, low-cost breaks can have a huge impact.
In this post, I’ll share some my practical, free or cheap spins on how to take a break, recharge, and truly feel invigorated without any guilt.
This site contains affiliate links, please view our disclaimer policy for more information.
1. Move Your Body – Even A Little
Physical activity doesn’t have to mean “hours at the gym” or “getting ripped.”
Your body and mind are deeply connected. Physical activity, even for a short burst, releases endorphins that can boost your mood and energy.
Should you be stationary for a long period of time, you may feel aches and stiffness that only physical movement can help.
This doesn’t mean you NEED to buy a gym membership to benefit from this. Here are some easy, budget-friendly ideas to keep yourself moving:
- Small space workouts
- Bodyweight exercises like
- push-ups
- squats
- lunges
- Yoga Stretches
- Bodyweight exercises like
- Walking beaks that let you step outside and walk around for at least 15 minutes.
- Dance like no one is watching, as you listen to your favorite songs in your room.
- Play video games that will let you move to your heart’s content, like Ring Fit Adventure for the Switch.
Remember, you aren’t lazy if you choose to move for a short period of time. Moving your body fuels your brain and boosts productivity for when you return to work or study.
The key is to remember to keep challenging yourself to perform better and to keep going, even if it’s little by little.
2. Change Your Scenery
When you are always on top of your priorities, your days can start to look the same.
You wake up, follow the same routine, go to the same places, and repeat it all over again.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Your schedule, routine, and drive are what makes you get the results that you need.
Though, when you’re doing the same thing over and over again, it can feel like your slowly digging yourself into a sad hole.
Over time, that repetition can start to feel heavy. You may notice that you’re not getting the results you want or that reaching your goals suddenly feels harder than it should.
When everything starts to feel overwhelming or unchanging, that’s often a sign you don’t need to push harder.
You need to take a break.
One of the easiest ways you can to get the most out of your break is changing your scenery.
For example, as a broke college student, one of my favorite ways to change my scenery was to grab a small cappuccino at a cafe.
It wasn’t something I could do often, which made it feel special for me.
For about 20 minutes, I was in a new environment with different sounds, different people, and a different pace.
That simple shift was enough to refresh my mindset and help me rest.
Changing your scenery doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming. You can change your scenery by:
- Eating your lunch outside or while sitting in the sun
- Going window shopping
- Taking a short walk around a nearby park
It doesn’t matter where you go. What matters is that you step out of your usual routine and do something you don’t normally make time for.
Sometimes, a small change in scenery is all you need to feel lighter, clearer, and ready to move forward again.
3. Practice Mindful Relaxation
Mental breaks are just as important as physical ones. When your brain is overstimulated, taking even a few minutes to slow down can recharge your focus and creativity.
Though for some people, they don’t know how to slow down.
For them, the idea of taking a break is a sign that something is wrong. That slowing down means they’re going to fall behind.
So, how can you slow down without feeling guilty? You can:
- Meditate. You don’t need go on an expensive retreat to do this. You can find guided meditations on Youtube if this is your first time meditating.
- Take a 20-30 minute power nap. They can help you pick yourself back up when you’re feeling tired.
- Journal about what you’re going through. Writing down your thoughts and worries can help clear the mental clutter of your mind.
Giving your mind a break is an investment in your mental stamina. Taking the time to reset helps you become more productive and balanced in the long run.
So, the next time you feel that guilt creeping in, remember:
Taking breaks is part of the process, not the problem.
Also, If the cost of continuously rebuying a journal stresses you, you can read this post.
4. Engage in Fun or Social Activities
The price of being busy and always on the go is sometimes not having the time to connect with your friends or family.
It’s easy to get caught up in the cycle of obligations. Get too caught up and you can become blind of how much time has passed without having meaningful social interaction with the people that you love.
We’ve already explored the different ways to take a break. However, it’s important to remember that taking a break doesn’t have to be a solo activity.
In fact, spending time with friends or family can often be one of the most effective ways to reset your mental state.
Social connection has a unique power to uplift your mood and reenergize you to becoming a more rounded person.
Whether it’s sharing a laugh, having a deep conversation, or simply enjoying each other’s company, these moments of connection can help you be a better person.
You can take a break with your friends and family by:
- Walking with a friend.
- Having lunch together.
- Playing games together.
And if you’re feeling your social circle is a little too small or you’re struggling to make friends, you can gain new friends by:
- Going to workshops
- Joining a community
- Joining a club or workout group
The bottom line is that breaks don’t have to be done alone. Socializing and enjoying time with others is a powerful way to recharge yourself.
If you feel the urge to step away, don’t forget that a break with loved ones could be the kind of break you truly need.
5. Stimulate Your Creativity
Your sense of creativity thrives when the brain has space to wander.
When you step away from deadlines and responsibilities, your mind has the freedom to explore and imagine.
Engaging in creative hobbies during breaks can be relaxing and mentally stimulating.
Creative breaks are the perfect opportunity to explore hobbies such as:
- Drawing or doodling.
- Writing, whether it’s journaling or writing a short story.
- Listening to music or playing an instrument.
For me, I tend to listen to music while I do a coloring book. I’m not a great artist, but I like practicing shading and experimenting with colors.
Of course, writing this blog post is also an example of using creativity during one of my breaks.
For me, writing posts like this is how I exercise intentionality and creativity during my breaks to maximize my energy and focus.
Making posts like this is proof that my breaks aren’t lazy, but an opportunity to perform better in writing and being creative.
If you’ve ever felt guilty for taking a break, it’s time to shift your perspective.
Breaks aren’t lazy, they’re essential in reducing stress, boosting creativity, and improving your physical health.
No matter how small or inexpensive the action is, your breaks can have a massive impact on you when it’s time to get back to you routine. It’s not about escaping responsibility or reality, it’s about respecting your limits and giving yourself energy to do your best.
So next time you’re feeling guilty for taking a break, remember: your brain, body, and future self will thank you.
