Sometimes in life we decide to take a break from activities, people, places, and things. This is taking a pause which means not being involved with something/someone for a period. A break means you will return to the activity, person, place, or thing that you took the break from. This is opposed to stopping and not returning which would be a “break up”. A break can be a dangerous decision when there is not a definite return date. Having a vague or approximate return date leaves room for procrastination, distraction, and taking part in alternatives choices (good or bad). There are several reasons a person might choose to take a break from something or someone.
Feeling a sense of burnout can influence the decision to take a break. You could feel like all your time, energy, and focus is on this one thing or person. The all-consuming pressure to uphold what is currently happening is difficult to imagine sustaining for the projected future. The thing or person has caused missing out on other parts of life that you desire to include. There isn’t a balance anymore. You want to test what it would feel like without the presence of the thing or person in your life. You have not decided to fully subtract or end this part of your life, but the readiness or attachment isn’t one hundred percent clear to you. Finances can be part of this. Maybe the cost is impactful, so you want to try to save the expense for a time.
Being able to do something on your own without the thing or person can be a factor. For example, you want to see if you would be okay single for a time. You want to see if you can exercise by yourself for a time. You want to see if you like something/someone better. The comparison can take place during a break. Pros and cons can be measured. Alternatives can be investigated.
A break is trying something without that thing or person/people for an allotted time. This might be 30 days of no alcohol. This could be 5 months of leave from work. Breaks can be set for a time. When there is not a set time, a break can be for however long and sometimes that break leads to a non-return. The term break can also ease the blow or termination. For example, rather than end a relationship, you take a break.
Sometimes taking a break can be self-destructive. You take a break from working out, maybe for a vacation. Then you must motivate yourself as you tell yourself when you are going to start again and actually follow through. You can leave something or someone up in the air about your return, so the break can be selfish because of your indecision. On the other hand, you could have no intention of returning and out of fear or ease, you just don’t want to tell that place/person you aren’t coming back.
The bottom line is that a break can be both good and bad. It can be eye-opening or self-sabotage. It can be shorter or longer than you thought. It can be forever. It can be an excuse or lie or out of avoidance. If you have ever been on the receiving end of a relationship when someone says they want a break, you are well aware of the uncertainty in the air. The “stay tuned” or “to be continued” makes a break unclear. Sometimes waiting to see what happens puts life in a place where confidence in truth is tested. “Be careful or it will break”, may be the sign of caution we need when it comes to taking breaks.