Taking breaks are important to our physical as well as mental health. During a normal workday, taking pockets of small breaks not only help to clear the head from a current assignment but will also help to recharge our battery. Sometimes, there are more creative ideas coming out from a break than the actual time spend in a proper “work posture”. As most of my time is spent in front of a laptop, I can easily take a short break by surfing some favorite blogs that are light hearted. If I need to stretch myself, I will go for a walk around the office and “kepoh” with my colleagues. Some harmless chit-chatting and gossiping are actually quite good especially if it can generate some laughter. Refreshing…revitalizing to the soul and then, back to work with a cup of my favorite “Aik Cheong” cappuccino.

Since short breaks are beneficial, taking long breaks from work are even more important. I am no workaholic and never intended to be one. Thus, whenever there is a public holiday around the corner, I would wait in anticipation and occasionally take another day off to make it a longer break. I am a strong advocate in working to live and not living to work. Thus, taking holidays to rejuvenate one’s mind and body is utmost important– whether spend by the seaside or on some cool terrain. We owe it to our bodies. But more importantly, we owe it to our own soul. In fact, regular holidays can boost up the productivity of workers and act as a way of renewing enthusiasm for a job. So, if you are an employer reading this – please do not withhold your employees from taking that break.

But, what does a normal person usually do during a break? For me, my ideal break: tee-off (play golf) at sunrise, enjoying a cup of English tea with a slice of cheese cake in the afternoon while watching the sun sets and then immerse myself in a good fiction. When I indulge in such luxury, I called it living “a real life” or is it?

Let’s meet up with Joshua. He took an 8-day break from work, not to a 6-star resort to have his body massaged or check-in to a star-studded floating house playing cards. Neither did he venture to an exotic island to check out the corals. When he described the condition of this place, supposedly to be his “break” from work, it is not everyone’s cup of tea and definitely not for those that are faint-hearted.

It was a break to do voluntary work but nonetheless, a break from work. Perhaps this break was not so much to give a rest to his body, but more of a mental one. Little did he know, it was also a break that opened up his eyes to the things that he had never seen before.

It was a break that’s filled with risk and danger. Myammar was hit with Nargis cyclone early last month. Many had died and properties were destroyed. Joshua has to see with his own eyes what the disaster had done and how he can help by participating in some relief effort.

However, the government is reluctant to accept foreign help. Together with a few others, they “smuggled” themselves to areas that had never been visited by anyone during that one month aftermath. It was a scene of despair, sadness and helplessness when they thread on this strange land and away from anything familiar.

After one month, decomposed bodies can still be found everywhere. Survivors are left to fend for themselves. The look on their faces can tear your hearts to pieces.

But, glimpses of smile appeared on their faces when they see food, medical aid and other basic necessities greeting them. The team knew their presence has brought cheers and hope to them. It was like a candle lighted in the dark. Joshua knew instantly that this “break” is unlike any other break that he had taken in the past. The joy in his heart was beyond words and cannot be traded with money or any treasure of this world.

Many of us may not have the boldness of Joshua to engage in such a “dangerous break” but his experience has given the phrase “taking a break from work” a new meaning. Must a break be always associated with luxury and self-pampering? Why can’t our break from work be meaningful and a life-changing experience?

Joshua believes his recent break had changed him. He is also more appreciative of what he has and found out that being generous can be very rewarding – as the saying goes, a generous person will himself be refreshed! And indeed, he felt so refreshed and ready to give his best at his work place.

What is your favorite break from work? Have you taken a meaningful break before? If yes, care to share with us?