Why Grown-ups Need Passing Periods
Working in a school, you learn how complicated and frustrating creating student schedules can be. I remember hearing a middle school teacher say, "if you don't give kids time, they'll find ways to take it." The teachers and administrators were trying to meet the needs of all students while making the most of everyone's day. We count days, hours, and every instructional minute but still have to allocate time for passing periods: the time students need to pass between classes. In addition to getting to their locker and back to class, students need to talk to their friends, use the bathroom, refill their water bottles, and maybe grab a snack. If you don't give them that time, they'll take it from you when you don't want them to. They will show up late to class, ask for a pass in the middle of class, or talk with peers during class time. We often see this behavior as rude or disrespectful. It looks like the students have planned poorly, but what if the adults were the ones who did the poor planning? What if that student talking isn't wasting time but instead seeking a connection to get through a tough day? What if they need a moment after class to process a lecture or shift their focus to the next lesson? Not to mention bathroom breaks and filling up water bottles to meet our body's basic needs. How can students be productive when these needs are met?
Is this any different for you during your workday? We rarely take adequate time for conversation, bathroom breaks, fresh air, movement, and hydration. When we deny ourselves, our bodies will eventually demand it; by that point, it's a fight to return to equilibrium. Preventative and intentional "passing periods" may save us from overwhelm and lead us towards healthy re-engagement with our work. It's not only about taking that time but also about giving ourselves permission without feeling guilty or unproductive. I used to chastise myself for taking five or ten minutes to myself. At the end of my day, when to-do items were left undone, I would tell myself if I had just not spoken to that colleague, if I had just not checked my social media, if I had just stayed at my desk, perhaps I would've gotten through everything. Is that realistic?
At the time, I didn't realize that those small moments were not preventing me from completing my to-do list. They were my mind and body's mediocre attempt to recalibrate after completing a task or in avoidance (procrastination) of something unwieldy. Underneath it was not laziness but my body's message about prioritizing my responsibilities and personal needs. Upon further investigation, my job responsibilities were far too great for one person. I wasn't delegating enough and wasn't building in the appropriate amount of time to bolster positive energy. I slowly learned that I needed intentional breaks that helped me reflect, recharge, and refocus. I went from seeing my unsanctioned breaks as lazy or flippant behavior (negative self-talk) to a necessary power boost to getting back on track for my day (positive self-talk). I stopped agonizing over "being productive" and instead tuned into those messages to better understand what I needed at that moment to feel engaged. I had to flip the negative self-talk into a healthy conversation with myself.
My work ethic fooled me into believing that working hard meant working non-stop. Creating a daily calendar for myself that schedules time to reflect, meditate, and walk outside, especially after intense meetings, phone calls, or creative work, recharges my body and refocuses my mind. I built passing periods to transition and stay engaged throughout my day. Here is an example: If you have an important 1-hour meeting, give yourself 15-30 minutes immediately afterward to use the bathroom, drink a glass of water, and take a quick walk outside. That becomes your passing period. Resist the urge to schedule meetings or phone calls back-to-back. If you attempt to jump directly into another task, you may find your mind is not ready to because it's still processing the information you just heard. You might feel distracted and scattered, having to re-read something or ask people to repeat themselves because you're overloaded. The next task will take longer to complete than it should, potentially with sub-par results. A passing period could have prevented a little stress and a lot of self-loathing.
The easy part is scheduling. The hard part is following through. Here is a quick list to help you get started:
Look at your calendar this week and identify three places where you can add a passing period for yourself.
Put a placeholder in your calendar labeled passing period.
Spend a few minutes defining what will help you process, decompress, prepare to transition to the next task, and re-engage.
Transfer that list onto a sticky note in plain sight as a visual reminder.
Enlist the help of a colleague. Tell them what you're doing so they won't try to engage you after a meeting before you're ready to.
Reflect on how you feel after your passing period. Jot it down in a notebook, record a voice memo, or tell a colleague.
Passing periods are small commitments with big rewards. The goal is to feel focused, positively engaged, and satisfied with your efforts and results.
