So, you’re in a job search.
And you’re burned out.
You can’t read one more posting, can’t write one more LinkedIn message, read one more company website, or respond to one more email.
Here’s some advice:
Stop.
Do nothing.
Go get an ice cream cone. Play with your cats.
You might already tend to do this when things feel overwhelming.
But you also might tell yourself, “I know I’m slacking right now, but…” After a few minutes, you might feel guilty and try to get back to work.
Cut that out.
I’ve got news for you. You are not slacking.
In fact, if you are taking a break right now, you are still working.
All that stuff you’re processing in your mind? It’s still in there getting juggled and sifted.
And you might be surprised at what results.
Something that seemed unclear before suddenly is less fuzzy and now, easy to decipher
It’s remarkable: When we take breaks from goal-oriented work, we make space for creativity.
Just Archimedes. (Well, imagine you could ask him.)
He was relaxing in his bath when he noticed that as the water level rose his body was submerged. He realized that the volume of water displaced must be equal to the volume of his body. Thus, what is now known as Archimedes’ Principle became a fundamental law of physics regarding buoyancy.
Albert Einstein, too, is thought to have had breakthroughs during his frequent walking breaks at the U.S. Patent Office, including his foundational ideas leading to the theory of relativity
The connection between breaks and breakthroughs has been studied.
Some key researchers and thinkers in cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and even organizational behavior have contributed to our understanding of how rest and downtime facilitate creativity, problem-solving, and brain health. These include Mary Helen Immordino-Yang of the University of Southern California; Daniel J. Levitin, author of The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload; and John Kounios and Mark Beeman, researchers known for their work on the neuroscience of insight and creativity.
Their insights include the following:
- Periods of rest and reflection are critical for the synthesis of complex cognitive processes like learning, creativity, and emotional well-being.
- During rest periods, the brain is not inactive; instead, it’s engaged in a different set of processes important for consolidating memories and reinforcing learning.
- Deliberate rest, including naps, walks, and playful activities, is not separate from work but a vital part of the creative process.
- During rest, our minds are wandering while the default mode network (DMN) is actively daydreaming, planning, and consolidating memories.
- Relaxation and a positive mood can lead to “aha!” moments by giving the brain the capacity to make broader associations more easily than when it is narrowly focused on a task.
When I feel overwhelmed and can’t seem to make progress on a project, I take breaks. I go to my basement art table and sift through ephemera for collages or work on the next part of a bookbinding project. Sometimes I listen to a podcast or play some jazz while I am doing this.
At other times, I take a walk or a short nap
And it’s weird.
Suddenly, I get an idea for a blog post, or for a way to handle a client’s resume. I connect something I read or something I’ve noticed with something I heard, and now have answered a burning question or have enough information to make a decision.
Try it!
The next time you feel tired, anxious, worn out, and unable to move forward without extreme effort, and things just aren’t gelling as you hoped, just stop. Shut everything down and take a break.
When you return to your task, you might find that you now are able to think in a new direction. You have clarity about what you want to write in that cover letter. You know what you want to say in that upcoming interview. Or you simply may feel renewed energy and optimism about your search.
Remember that when you aren’t “doing anything,” you are still “doing something.” Your goal awaits, and you probably will reach it and feel great about it.
