We’ve all felt that moment: when the stress of the day or
the pressure from a big project at work somehow seems to have taken up
residence in that area right between your shoulders. Your head starts to ache,
maybe your stomach is grumbling for something good to eat, and you start to
crave a break of any sort – even if that means running to the lunchroom for a
quick, sugary (and unhealthy) snack. Pushing your brain to redline isn’t just a
bad idea, it’s unhealthy for you. Next time you find yourself in this state,
consider taking a break. Here’s why:
You’ll be More Compassionate
Neuroscience tells us that the part of our brain known as
the fight or flight center, or limbic system, works in a seesaw manner with the
prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for executive functioning.
Our prefrontal cortex makes it possible for us to be compassionate and
empathic. It also helps us to problem solve effectively. The prefrontal cortex
doesn’t perform well when you’re wrung out. If you’ve been stressed out from
cramming for exams or an end-of-year project at work, it makes it really hard
for that part of your brain to stay focused. And when the prefrontal cortex
isn’t activated, the limbic system takes over. This part of our brain keeps us
alive in periods of little sleep, poor nutrition, and high stress, but it’s
very cut and dried. It doesn’t have time to be compassionate or to see things
from another person’s point of view.
It’s Good for Your Heart
Not only is taking a break good for your brain, it’s good
for your heart. Cardiologists and psychologists are continually investigating
the direct link between stress and heart disease, but we know that stress
contributes to behaviors and biological responses that are taxing to our
hearts. Some people increase their consumption of alcohol when they’re
stressed, while others “stress eat,” cramming their body full of processed,
high-sugar foods. When you’re in a high stress moment, the fight or flight part
of your brain is activated and your body releases adrenaline. While this is a
great reaction to have when avoiding a car accident on a busy highway, it’s not
good for us to have this survivalist reaction when we receive an email from an
unhappy customer. Adrenaline increases your heart rate and your blood pressure.
If too much adrenaline is running through your body on a too frequent basis,
you could be doing your heart real damage. Take a few moments after that
adrenaline rush to shake it out, go for a walk, or get up and dance around a
bit. This will help get the energy out of your system and help you to return to
homeostasis – and a healthy heart state.
You’ll be More Productive
Ever walk into a room and forget why you walked into it in
the first place? That’s a sign that your brain needs a break. We’re overloaded
with information on a pretty consistent basis: Facebook, blogs, Instagram,
emails, smartphones, tablets…the list goes on. This overload of information is
sometimes just too much. When a pile of assignments lands on your desk, what’s
the first thing you do? You start to try and make sense of it all. Your brain
is the same way. You have to organize everything that’s coming at you before
you can actually process and understand it. When there’s just too much, take a
deep breath and do something different for a few minutes. Try picking up an
artistic hobby, or if you’re not the artistic type, consider a coloring book
written for adults. A walk around the neighborhood or taking your outside can
work wonders for your brain health and overall stress.
