Hardwork vs. Brainwork: How Does Rest and Play Improve our Performance at Work?
Recently, someone suggested that successful people are those who are willing to sacrifice their weekends, never taking a day off. That includes sick days, which they specifically mentioned.
It sounds like the recipe for success, right? Well, most people would nod in agreement, thinking that hard work is all about achieving top-notch performance and maximum output. And it is. But here's the plot twist: when you work non-stop without a break, you're essentially cutting ties with your brain's default network—the very source of innovation and creativity. the Default Mode Network is a network of brain regions that become active when the mind is at rest and engaged in self-referential and introspective thoughts. It contributes to various aspects of cognitive functioning and is essential for processes such as daydreaming and creativity. Meaning that taking breaks, engaging in play, and letting your mind wander every once in a while can support innovation, problem solving, adaptability, customer engagement, crisis anticipation, visioning and brand identify. All of which can be considered drivers of high performance.
Think about those "eureka" moments that often happen in the shower. It's because your brain finally gets a moment to breathe and do its thing. Now, let's say you dream of becoming a world-class concert pianist. You'd need dedication, a willingness to learn, and an open mind for coaching. But here's the kicker: you'd also need those long, dedicated practice hours every day. Yet, even with all that hard work, if you skip out on breaks and neglect activities like meditation, exercise, or enjoying your favorite hobbies, you're basically sabotaging your own performance improvement mechanism.
It's like telling someone aspiring to be a pianist to cut off their fingers and just slam the keys as hard as they can as long as they can, until they somehow exquisitely perform Beethoven. Now, I’m no music instructor, but that doesn't sound like the best advice, does it? No! Because one, your music teacher sounds like an unhinged lunatic, and two, while consistent concentrated focus and practice are critical to skill development by supporting things like increased connectivity, myelinization, brain area expansion and efficiency, taking breaks helps with things like consolidation of learning, memory reorganization, managing fatigue, reducing interference, improved attention, motivation, creativity and problem solving, to name a few. You kind of need both.
So, here's a thought: work hard, absolutely, but don't forget to give your brain the breather it needs. After all, brilliance often strikes when you least expect it.
