Adult Recess

Last Wednesday, I wrote about my ideal afternoon routine:

-Take a (ideally) 1-hour lunch break

• Eat a light lunch to avoid the crash
• Drink a cup of green tea
• Around 3 PM: go for a walk, stretch, or do some light chores
• Stay hydrated
• Plan ahead for the next day

That Thursday and Friday, I had the most productive afternoons I’ve ever had. I’m not kidding.

The game changer was the dedicated 3 PM midday break. Before, I’d take breaks whenever I felt like it—if at all. But having a set time gives me something to look forward to and a much-needed mental reset before closing out the day.

It actually reminds me of recess back in elementary school. We had a 15-minute recess at 10 AM, a 45-minute lunch break, and another 15-minute recess at 2 PM.

Even during those short breaks, my friends and I would squeeze in a quick game of basketball or soccer, or classics like manhunt, four square, or elimination (the one with the tennis ball).

Looking back, I think they were really onto something with these scheduled outdoor breaks built right into the day. I’m going to start calling my own breaks Adult Recess. It just sounds more fun that way.