Effective Break Strategies for Long Workdays

Working less makes you more successful. Burnout is not a business plan. Hard to hear, but harder to ignore. During my last startup, I hit rock bottom. 18 hour days. Constant stress. Total burnout. For what? Revenue flatlined. My health collapsed. I nearly lost my marriage and I pissed off Investors. Then I discovered a really obvious truth: Strategic rest isn't a luxury. It's your secret weapon. Work fewer hours, close bigger deals. Fact. When I cut my hours by 20% and added intentional breaks: • Creative solutions I couldn't see before suddenly became obvious • Decision quality improved dramatically • Revenue grew faster than during my burnout phase A 2019 Microsoft Japan experiment proved it: They tried a 4-day workweek and saw productivity jump 40%. Here's what actually works: 1. Use the 52/17 Rule -52 minutes of focused work. 17 minutes completely off. -Your brain naturally works in cycles of focus and recovery. 2. Take a real lunch break -Not at your desk. Not scrolling emails. -One of my peers added 30 minutes of complete disconnect daily. -Her team's output jumped 24%. 3. Schedule deep recovery -Block one 2-hour window weekly for pure thinking. -No screens. Just you and big questions. 4. The power pause -Before every major decision, take a 24-hour cooling period. -This single habit saved me from three potentially catastrophic choices this year. 5. One complete day off -Your brain solves problems in the background. -Give it the space to work. I now get more done in 40 hours than I used to in 80. Not because I found a productivity hack. Because I respect my brain's limits. What's one way you'll build strategic rest into your week? ♻️ Repost to save someone from burnout. 🔔 Follow me (Charlie Lass) for more counterintuitive truths about success.

The most overlooked productivity tool? 3-minute mental fitness breaks. Most leaders think they can't afford to stop. The truth? You can't afford NOT to. Research has found that even brief mindfulness practices significantly improve decision quality. One study showed that just a 3-minute mindfulness intervention enhanced critical decision-making abilities under pressure. I see this with my executive clients daily: • The fintech CEO who takes 3 minutes before board meetings to reset her mental state. She consistently makes clearer strategic decisions that her team can actually execute. • The hospital administrator who pauses between back-to-back crises. This simple practice helps him maintain emotional balance while handling life-or-death situations. • The startup founder who schedules five 3-minute breaks throughout his day. He reports fewer reactive decisions and better strategic thinking. Mental fitness breaks aren't meditation in disguise. They're strategic reset points that: 1. Break decision fatigue cycles 2. Reduce cognitive biases (we all have them) 3. Create space between reaction and response 4. Restore perspective when you're in the weeds How to implement this tomorrow: → Set specific break triggers (after meetings, before decisions, between tasks) → Keep it simple: 3 deep breaths, a brief body scan, or simply observing your thoughts → Stay consistent even when "too busy" (ESPECIALLY when too busy) → Notice the quality of decisions before vs. after these breaks Leaders often pride themselves on cognitive endurance, pushing through mental fatigue like it's a badge of honor. But the strongest leaders I know aren't afraid to pause, reset, and then decide. Mental clarity isn't a luxury. It's the foundation of every other leadership skill you possess. Try it tomorrow. Three minutes. Five times. Watch what happens to your decision quality. And feel free to repost if someone in your life needs to hear this. 📩 Subscribe to my newsletter here → https://lnkd.in/dD6bDpS7 You'll get FREE access to my 21-Day Mindfulness & Meditation Course packed with real, actionable strategies to lead with clarity, resilience, and purpose.

Refuel to Recharge: Why Leaders Must Pause to Propel Forward In a world that glorifies the grind, taking time to pause can feel counterintuitive. Here is what I choose to believe: resilience isn’t built in the hustle—it’s built in the recovery. We have all seen various research which shows that micro-breaks of just 10 minutes can significantly reduce fatigue and boost energy and creativity. Longer breaks amplify these benefits, improving focus and decision-making—critical for leaders navigating complexity. Yet, the stakes are high: In a recent Gallup study they indicated that “66% of employees report feeling burned out, costing businesses an estimated $322 billion annually in lost productivity and healthcare costs”. That’s staggering. And, as I reflect on this and my personal experiences and observations; I’ve learned that refueling isn’t a luxury—it’s a leadership strategy. When I take time to recharge, I lead with clarity, empathy, and purpose. It allows me to drive progress without depleting resilience. Here are 3 ways leaders can refuel and remain resilient: 1. Schedule Micro-Pauses – Step away for 10 minutes to breathe, reflect, or walk. It’s a reset button for your brain. 2. Protect Boundaries – Block “focus time” and unplug to restore mental energy. 3. Model Recovery – When leaders normalize rest, teams feel permission to do the same—reducing burnout across the board. “Resilience isn’t about being unbreakable; it’s about putting the pieces back together and moving forward with renewed strength.” – David Goggins Your leadership impact depends on your energy. How are you refueling today? References Micro-breaks and energy boost: https://lnkd.in/gnnQcYeM Burnout prevalence – Gallup, State of the Global Workplace Report: https://lnkd.in/gghDTJYi Cost of burnout – World Health Organization: https://lnkd.in/gMbjSpTN Quote – David Goggins: https://davidgoggins.com/