If you’re old enough, you might remember having recess at school. It was a break from the classroom as well as a chance to run around, socialize, and engage in unstructured play. After WWII, 60-90 minute of recess became the norm for elementary school students. And research supported it, suggesting that children benefit academically, socially, and behaviorally from recess. However, starting the 1980’s and 1990’s, recess waned in popularity and priority. In fact, it has largely disappeared in some schools. This loss of recess in our schools reflects an overall devaluation of rest in our society. Even though adults, just like children, benefit from regular breaks [AKA-the adult word for recess] to recharge and refocus, rest has fallen into disrepute. We value productivity more than taking a break to refocus and recharge. In fact, we often feel guilty when we feel we aren’t “accomplishing something” every minute of the day.

However, rest remains crucial for our physical health, mental clarity, and, in all reality, our success and productivity. Sometimes the best way to get a job done quickly and efficiently is to take a break now and again to reconnect with others, recharge your energy, and refocus your goals (See The Health Benefits of Pausing and Taking Breaks for more info).

With this in mind, I suggest we initiate a revolutionary practice in our families. Schedule a family recess every day. That’s right. Stop the frenetic rush from activity to activity for long enough to take a break, engage in unstructured play, and socialize. Refocus and recharge together. You might just find your family smiling more often, enjoying one another more deeply, and even getting more done.