Taking a Break

CommunityTee is back from the summer break with a revamped website, and many new designs will gradually be added to the shop – stay tuned! :-) Thank you so much for the many messages I received during the summer break. Now, we’re heading into a new year with full power, as CommunityTee celebrates its first anniversary, and I’m offering free shipping until the end of October within the EU (no shipping costs will be charged during check-out).

In this blog, I want to talk about the necessity and importance of taking breaks. The CommunityTee shop and blog were paused for a while, and that was necessary. Breaks often seem like a luxury we can’t always afford. There are phases when we simply have to keep going. We have responsibilities, deadlines, and projects that don’t allow for a break. But it’s in those moments that we often realize how exhausted we become. Energy dwindles, creativity suffers, and even the joy in the things that normally motivate us starts to fade. I’ve experienced that too, and that’s why it was clear to me that it was time to take a break. This break wasn’t just a pause from work, but a conscious decision to recharge and come back with fresh energy.

It has been scientifically proven that breaks are essential for both mental and physical health. A study from the University of Illinois showed that regular short breaks boost productivity and reduce error rates. The reason is that our brain becomes fatigued during long periods of work and gets “recharged” through short interruptions. The so-called “Ego Depletion” effect is also well-researched: our mental energy decreases throughout the day, and breaks help us to restore it. I’ve experienced this myself. After the summer break, I felt more creative, clearer in my mind, and motivated to tackle new ideas. So, this break wasn’t just a pause but a real investment in the future of our project.

What is especially important to me: taking a break doesn’t mean abandoning everything or giving up responsibility. On the contrary. It’s about consciously taking time to regain balance. Only when we regularly allow ourselves these moments of rest can we work at a high level and stay creative in the long run. I know that it is often difficult to incorporate these breaks into our daily lives, but that’s exactly why we should pay more attention to them. For me, this pause was an opportunity to gather new energy and at the same time reflect on the direction for the coming months.

The beauty of breaks is that they help us refocus and see things from a different perspective. Often, it’s the small moments of calm when the best ideas emerge. I’ve had this experience in the past few weeks. The shop and blog will continue in the coming months with new ideas and projects, and I’m excited to share them with you.

Finally, Matze’s practical tips: I’m aware that it’s not always possible to take long breaks. But sometimes, even small moments of rest are enough. A walk, a nap, or simply a few minutes of silence can do wonders. The important thing is to consciously take these breaks and allow ourselves to breathe for a moment. Most people struggle with “consciously taking a break,” but what does that even mean? It’s simple: when you’re caught up in the stress of everyday life, time flies by. But when you consciously take a break, you can “feel” the time again and draw energy from it. Only then can we move forward with fresh energy and a clear mind. I hope you also find space in your everyday life for small or larger breaks and experience the positive effects… stay tuned…

Source:

Trougakos, J. P., Beal, D. J., Green, S. G., & Weiss, H. M. (2008). Making the break count: An episodic examination of recovery during lunch. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93(5), 407-417.

Ariga, A., & Lleras, A. (2011). Brief and rare mental “breaks” keep you focused: Deactivation and reactivation of task goals preempt vigilance decrements. Cognition, 118(3), 439-443.