Taking a break

One of the forgotten pieces of the success puzzle is taking rest when you need it. Its important not only in the physical sense, but also for your mental state.
When you're working out regularly, your body needs a break from all of the stress to heal itself, build muscle and repair the damage that exercise causes. The same can be said for when you're working hard mentally. A streak of inspiration, a stressful week at work, or even getting sick can wear you out, sometimes so much that it forces you to take a break when it might be inconvenient.

So taking a break when you have fewer projects to complete, or you're not bursting with new ideas for your blog, or you're noticing you're more tired during your workouts can be beneficial in keeping your motivation in the long-term. There are ups and down, ebbs and flows, in all of life and it's important to relax into them; let them lead the way, and take the break when life tells you to.

How long do you take a break for, and how do you restart once you've gotten that burst of inspiration and motivation? It's not suggested that you break for too long, in most cases a few days is plenty. Breaking for too long from a regular schedule can be detrimental to your long-term goals. A shorter break also makes it much easier to restart; when you have only been off-schedule for a few days it doesn't feel like much of a challenge to begin your routine again, and you bear less of a risk of losing your momentum and progress.

Don't wait for your body or mind to break down on you; take a break before you need it! Regular rest will lengthen your drive and focus. Schedule in rest days every month if you must, just make sure you take the time to unwind and regroup!