According to Dawna Ballard, a communications professor at the University of Texas at Austin, taking a break in the middle of the week can have a positive impact on our health. By giving ourselves a day to make our own pace, we can break the cycle of the over-scheduled work week and realign with our internal clock. This can lead to a refreshed and revitalized approach to the rest of the work week.
Our experience of time is influenced by both internal and external pacers, such as our natural rhythms and work schedules. Ballard explains that everyone has a different chronotype, with some people being slower moving and others faster moving. However, the traditional work week can throw this out the window, imposing a rigid schedule on individuals.
The cyclical nature of the work week has a significant psychological impact, partially due to repetition and partially because it mimics the natural cycle of day and night. Ballard notes that the week is a powerful pacer because it keeps repeating, much like the diurnal cycle. This repetition can lead to a sense of friction, particularly on Monday mornings.
Taking a Wednesday off can interrupt the externally imposed pacer of work and give individuals a chance to rediscover their internal rhythms. This can lead to a range of benefits, including empty beaches, parks, and museums, as well as a greater sense of calm and control. By building space on either side of the break, individuals can shift the balance between their pace and work's in their favor.
Research has shown that chronic misalignment between our lifestyle and our inner timekeeper is associated with an increased risk of various diseases. The 2017 Nobel Prize winners for their work on body clocks, Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young, highlight the importance of synchronizing our internal and external clocks.
The practice of work-from-home Wednesdays has been successful for some businesses, as it allows employees to keep their inner and outer clocks in sync. Ballard notes that this practice can lead to a greater sense of calm and control, as employees start the week knowing they have a break to look forward to.
Overall, taking a Wednesday off can have a range of benefits for individuals, from improving their well-being to increasing their sense of control and calm. By recognizing the importance of synchronizing our internal and external clocks, we can take steps to prioritize our health and well-being in our busy lives.
Key points
- Taking a mid-week break can help individuals realign with their internal clock and improve their overall health.
- The traditional work week can have a significant psychological impact, partially due to repetition and partially because it mimics the natural cycle of day and night.
- Research has shown that chronic misalignment between our lifestyle and our inner timekeeper is associated with an increased risk of various diseases.
