With our To Do lists staring us in the face, it can be hard to stop doing. When we measure our progress by goals and objectives, it can be difficult to stop being goal-oriented, even for an hour. And yet the quality of everything we do depends on the seemingly aimless time-outs we allow ourselves.

The spaces in our days are like the pauses in a piece of music or the punctuation in a piece of prose. Without those rests, meaning is elusive.

The minutes we spend looking at the clouds or the stars, resting on the sofa, or relaxing in the tub are like filling the well. When we go too long without "wasting time," we find that the well is dry. We don't have patience our children need from us. We don't have the flow of ideas our work requires. We don't have the physical energy to care for our families and homes and belongings. We don't have the sense of health and well-being that makes life sweet.

"A day at the beach" is the metaphor for the experience that provides deep refreshment. And the elements of a day at the beach can be a good starting point for identifying what spells relaxation, rest and renewal to you.

With your visor in place, think about what experiences fill your well, and how you can incorporate them into your busy life:

• Walking, sitting or lying down in the great outdoors?
• Watching and listening to the waves and water, or getting into the water?
• Going barefoot, or feeling the air on your skin?
• Watching the clouds roll by, or gazing at the sunset?
• A change of scene?
• Catching a nap?
• Holding a baby?
• Strolling through a garden?
• Having a massage?

When we spend a part of every day wearing the Sun Visor, all our other hats fit better!

A colleague, Krista Kurth, has personally experienced the physical impact of hurry-sickness and, since recovering, has dedicated her work to helping others realize the positive benefits of change through renewal and revitalization through her company, Renewal Resources, LLC. Here's what she has to say about the importance of practicing renewal at work:

Your decision to practice renewal at work has a postiive impact on your work and you.

• Research shows if you work too long at mental tasks, the time you need to solve problems increases by 500%. If you don't take a planned break, the brain unplugs anyway. Renewing yourself by taking planned breaks increases your productivity!
• Interviews conducted by researchers indicate five expressions of lost productivity related to burnout: jadedness, cynicism, lowered creativity, avoidance of decision making, and increased accidents. Taking time for renewal may directly impact your: outlook toward your work; creativity, decision making ability and chances of avoiding accidents.
• Indications of burnout as reported by employees include chronic fatigue, low energy, irritability, and negative attitude towards oneself and one's job. All of which have a direct impact on the quality and quantity of work. Renewing yourself on a regular basis throughout the day prevents burnout and contributes to the rekindling of your enthusiasm for your work.

• Renewal contributes to healthy relationships and overall general health.
• Research shows that satisfaction on the job is determined by self-renewal.
• Self-renewal is an integral aspect of effective leadership. Your ability to lead can be linked to your inclusion of self-renewal into your work life.

Sources: Executive EQ; Healthy People in Unhealthy Places; The Performance Edge; and The Work Stress Connection.

The old man looks over the sleek, shiny surface of the car and asks "What kind of car ya got there, sonny?".

The dude replies "A 2006 Turbo BeepBeep. They cost $500,000."

"That's a lotta money!" says the old man, shocked. "Why does it cost so much?"

"Cause this car can do up to 320 miles an hour!" states the cool dude proudly.

The old man asks "Can I take a look inside?"

"Sure" replies the owner.

So the old man pokes his head in the window and looks around. Leaning back on his moped, the old man says "That's a pretty nice car, alright!"

Just then the light changes, so the guy decides to show the old man what his car can do. He floors it, and within 30 seconds the speedometer reads 320. Suddenly, the guy notices a dot in his rear view mirror. It seems to be getting closer!

Whhhoooooooooossssshhhhhh! Something whips by him! Going maybe three times as fast!

The guy wonders "what on earth could be going faster than my Turbo BeepBeeP?" Then, ahead of him, he sees a dot coming toward him.

Whooooooooooosh! Goes by again! And, it almost looked like the old man on the moped! Couldn't be thinks the guy. How could a moped outrun a Turbo BeepBeep? Again, he sees a dot in his rearview mirror!

WhoooooooshhhhhhhhKa-BbbbblaMMMMM! It plows into the back of his car, demolishing the rear end.

The guy jumps out and discovers it is the old man! Of course, the moped and the old man are hurting for certain. The guy runs up to the dying old man and asks "You're hurt bad! Is there anything I can do for you?"

The old man replies "Yeah. Unhook my suspenders from the side-view mirror on your car!"

Pick the moral of the story that fits for you:

• showing off can be deadly in ways you can't even imagine
• curiosity killed the old man
• toys mean nothing compared to life
• watch out what you are hooked on