Rusty minds and Oxidised Knives.

Knives out - a surgeon.

Have you ever used a knife? If you haven't used a one, better go check it out. You will see it has started to rust since it's last use. In fact common kitchen knives do not rust fast, Yet they do, at a microscopic level at a faster rate. If you do not know, ask a surgeon. He would tell that a surgical knife starts to rust as soon as it is exposed to environment. So, they come in a special package sealed. And once it is in contact with body fluids it starts the process of oxidization within seconds to minutes. Having a tangible effect on its performance, within minutes. Even after few minutes of exposure, the level of precision needed for the surgery may not be there due to this process and he will have to replace the blade entirely. As, these are reusable there is no problem, however we cannot throw away our kitchen Knives every day! So, we have to sharpen them before reuse.

Rusty Knife.

Story of the Lumberjack

Maybe you have experience in cutting some wood. And just like the surgeon's knife after using the axe for a while, the lumberjack will find that it needs a bit of sharpening. At this point he has two choices. Either stop his cutting, and sharpen his axe, or continue to chop wood at an increasingly decreasing rate. Guess what, most of them would do. They will stop, and sharpen their axe, before starting again. This not only gives a rest to the body, but to the mind as well. You can call this a tactical break. But, from the point of view of the employer, you may feel reluctant to pay for the time spent for the "Resting and sharpening of instruments". Like that is not part of the process of cutting wood.

And you do not have to be a lumberjack or a surgeon to find these phenomena, in practice. Even a nursing practitioner doing a 12-hour shift, or a driver doing a long journey, a machine operator, or even a bartender would need some rest from time to time. Even during their supposed working hours. And if you are the employer, it is better to understand this fact and ease the schedule for such unless you want to fill the time with less efficient hours from exhausted workers. No matter how many CCTV cameras you establish to monitor the workers, might not help in the long run preventing exhaustion, and burnout.

Rusty minds of Student life.

If you are a student or someone working most of the day with creative activities or even something boring like mathematics. You would need a rest as minds get rusty just as knives. Which should be pre-determined and scheduled into your busy day. Otherwise, there can be a crash, and the internal machine might break beyond repair. Do not think this is going to reduce your productivity in anyway. Paradoxically it is going to increase your productivity. Like the axe of a lumberjack cuts better and more wood. If you are still not sure Maybe you should learn the diffuse thinking mode, which I gained insight from Barbara Okley. Yes, the famous and slow math professor.

So, when you are well rested, just leave a thank you comment. :)