The Art of Switching Off

And why it's so important.

Hey everyone,

I hope you are doing well. Courtesy of my vacation to Morocco, I’ve had to relearn how to unwind and relax after a year of grind.

To be frank, this is not the first year I was on the grind. Last year, GCSEs were more or less the same story. Coming into the three-month holiday, I was still in a work mindset and didn’t fully switch off even with no obstacles to do so. Even though I did spend some time gaming, I also spent considerably more time on challenging tasks, like learning Quranic Arabic and trying to make my own game using what I learned in Unity for my DofE, among other things. Part of this is a consequence of my desire to pursue challenging tasks, but it’s also about wanting to be productive with the time I had. This is what I figured out with time, and here’s how I cracked it.

Sometimes, the most productive task to pursue is quite simply to do nothing. The main idea of a holiday is to relax, so relax. Of course, one might want to do work, but the key idea to take note of here is that if you’re not able to do work for whatever reason, be it family plans, don’t feel bad about it. This was one aspect of my holiday that nagged at me every now and then, and I realized that it’s another aspect of life that is out of my control. You can’t always be productive. You can’t always do your work. Embrace and adapt. Except now I do that both with my heart and mind.

Another thing I’ve realized is that doing nothing gives your mind an opportunity to wander, which is crucial for ideas. If you don’t stop for one second, how will you notice what's around you and process what you take in? Although realistically you probably will have time to do so, I think allowing for significant time in your day to wander is important. At least for me, it’s quite helpful. It is boredom that feeds creativity.

After some thought, I think the best way to approach a holiday is with a balance. Spend enough time with family, relax, and do some work if you want or need to. Finding that balance allows you to recharge while still feeling productive. So next time you find yourself on a break, remember to take a deep breath and enjoy the moment. The art of switching off is about finding that perfect blend of rest and productivity.

Take care and enjoy your holidays!

Gratitude for every word read and every thought shared. Until next time!

Best wishes,

Ismail

P.S. How is your holiday going?

P.P.S. Same schedule as usual posting throughout and beyond :)