Need to Recharge During a Busy Workday? Try These 11 Tricks

On a busy workday, you may begin to feel burned out and yearn for a restful break. But you likely won’t need to take a full-on vacation to reset your mind and feel refreshed enough to tackle your remaining tasks. With the right strategies, you may be able to recharge right in the middle of the workday, no plane ticket or PTO necessary.

To help you do this, a panel of Young Entrepreneur Council members provided a list of strategies they recommend you try if you need to take a few minutes to unplug and recharge during your day. 

Q. While you may not always be able to drop everything to take a vacation, what’s one thing you can do to unplug and recharge—even if only for a few minutes—during the workday?

1. Unplug From Your Devices

I believe it’s essential to unplug and slow your mind down. Take 10 minutes, put your phone in a drawer, take a walk (outside if possible), try to slow your thoughts, then get back at it. The worst thing you can do is hop on social media or emails and fill your brain with more noise and clutter. Shut it down for a minute and give yourself a chance to reset. – Nate Corrado, Fleet Advisor

2. Try to Take a Power Nap

I am an advocate for a 20-minute, post-lunch power nap. The after-lunch lull always hits me hard. For years I tried to battle it with copious amounts of caffeine. One day, I gave in and laid down on my office couch for 20 minutes. I woke up feeling rested, refreshed, and much more productive than if I would’ve had a couple of espressos. Unplug and recharge with a well-deserved power nap! – Shane Edgell, EdgellBIM

3. Listen to an Audiobook

I like to step away from work and listen to a chapter or two from a fiction audiobook. The book obviously varies based on what I’m listening to at the time. After about 20 minutes, I feel recharged and ready to get back to work. Sometimes that little break is all I need to find my focus and crush the day. – Chris Christoff, MonsterInsights

4. Get Out of Your Office or Workspace

Most importantly, get up and leave your desk or workspace. You won’t focus 100% of your energy on recharging if you don’t change your scenery. Two of the best things to do once you leave your desk are taking a walk outside or meditating. Both can help you clear your mind and energize yourself so that you can tackle the next things on your list. Try to schedule breaks multiple times throughout the day. – Jonathan Prichard, MattressInsider.com

5. Take a Brief Walk Outside

Leave your phone and go for a walk outside. It can be short or long. If you are working from home, bring the dog. If you are at the office, bring a colleague. A breath of fresh air, physical activity, and taking in some vitamin D are enough to lower your stress and invite the creative energy to flow in, making the remaining workday more effective and enjoyable. – Mary Harcourt, CosmoGlo

6. Talk to Colleagues

A good way to recharge yourself during a workday is to have a quick coffee break and have small chats with your favorite colleagues. Get up from your desk and walk into a space where you aren’t staring at a computer or looking at a pile of files that remind you of work. A quick chat during a hectic workday can be super refreshing to recharge yourself. – Josh Kohlbach, Wholesale Suite

7. Do Your Favorite Activity

Identify a list of your favorite things to do at home. Write this in your notes on your phone and reference it often when taking breaks. Ideas can include drawing, reading, taking a course, learning a new skill, focusing on yoga, or meditating. Personalizing this list is the first step, and referring to the list and taking time away from business is another essential step to grow your mindset. – Libby Rothschild, Dietitian Boss

8. Break a Sweat

Make it a point to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day. Whether you decide to do this in the morning, during your lunch break, or after work, it’s important to get 30 minutes of movement in. It also doesn’t matter what type of activity it is, but make sure you break a sweat. Exercising helps give you energy, improves your mood, and improves sleep. – Brian David Crane, Spread Great Ideas

9. Put Your Phone on Airplane Mode

One way to recharge during the workday is to put your phone on airplane mode for a few minutes. Airplane mode will stop you from getting any emails, text messages, and calls. If you have a little more time, it can be beneficial to take some time away from work. Personally, I enjoy camping. When I go camping, I either don’t have a signal or I put my phone on airplane mode to give myself a break. – Bryan Driscoll, Motivated Leads

10. Practice Being Present

The key to feeling recharged is to shift from thinking, planning, and working to being present. You can pull away from your racing thoughts by taking deep breaths and observing your body. A simple step like this grounds you in reality and helps you pay attention to your environment. Doing this for a few minutes will give you a quick and impactful way to re-energize even on a hard day. – Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner

11. Read a Paperback Novel

One of the reasons why we feel so burned out all the time is because we’re using electronic screens so much. Taking a few minutes to open a paperback book makes a nice change for your eyes. And a fictional story can mentally put you in a new environment. You’ll find yourself feeling refreshed in an instant and ready to take on the world. – Blair Williams, MemberPress

These answers are provided by Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most successful young entrepreneurs. YEC members represent nearly every industry, generate billions of dollars in revenue each year, and have created tens of thousands of jobs. Learn more at yec.co.