In a distant memory, do you remember the smell of coffee’sipping leisurely as you read the newspaper or delete work e-mails? Then you’d wander from the office for a sixty-minute lunch break that never seemed long enough or plot how you’d be spending the weekend with the family.

You still NEED those little breaks.

When you’re building up your own empire, slowing for a second seems like a waste of time. Trust me, I know. But it isn’t. As I work from 9 to ?? during the weekends on property restoration projects, taking a break seems stupid. One hour off today means one more hour down the road until my project is complete and more lost revenue.

This weekend, I learned the hard way that sipping the coffee every so often might be a refreshing idea. Everyone was at each other’s throat over the dumbest things. We’ve become so stressed out, so focused on the end goal, and so unaware of what matters most.

Stop. Chat by the water faucet. Even if you think you don’t need to take a brief break… you probably do.