Planning breaks for long term success
Building breaks into your work keeps you sharp
Last week I announced on my YouTube that I was taking a short break. I’ve been doing my twice per week uploads for 5 months now and outside of a recording fiasco while out of town, not missed a single upload. There have been multiple times where I really did not want to make a video that week but soldiered on (curiously some of my best performing videos came out of this) to hit the streak. I realized something recently though.
I have no been taking my own medicine. I talk about taking breaks and the importance of taking breaks in several videos. In fact, I kept talking about it despite the previous attempts not hitting with the YouTube audience because I’m either stubborn or think this is important. Or you know, both. So I took a break.
In fact I almost didn’t write an article for this week, but instead I’m opting for a shorter-than-usual post. I figured it was a great opportunity to talk about, well, taking breaks. Seemingly my favorite topic.
Why are breaks important?
Even if you really love making games, if you keep grinding it out you will eventually not enjoy it. You’ll procrastinate, dread opening the editor, or lose interest. Your solution here is simple, but difficult. You need to take a break.
Personally I find that easier said than done. A younger me simply did not do it. I like to think I’m wiser now. Recently I’ve started to build break time into my routine and noticed it really helps me think more clearly. At least from my best guess, I think I’m more productive too. I haven’t mastered time travel yet so it’s hard to measure what might have happened otherwise.
Typically I’ll plan my break time after completing major milestones for a project. This time though it was a more immediate, “I need a break” moment. I usually build in enough buffer for allow for this kind of thing anyway. If you’re like me, you also really have to give yourself permission to do this. If I know that I’ve built time for breaks into the schedule it helps me do that.
It also helps that I know I can go all-in if I need to because I’ve done it before.
Find of the Week
I’ve done a lot more this past week than play games, but since we aren’t all co-located one way I’ve taken a break is to start playing Victoria 3 again. One day I will keep the independent nation of Texas from being overtaken by the United States, but today is not that day. Victoria 3 also isn’t what I found for the week.
I came across Heart of the Machine while I was looking for similar games to help me get over once again failing as Texas. I haven’t played it yet, but it is on the wishlist in Early Access. I’m really curious about this game and hope to check it out next time I’m looking for a break. Maybe you all will be interested too.
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