I sometimes see parts of my audience squirm at the word “accountability.” To the fiercely independent, the word can bring up this image of a boss breathing down their necks, watching their computers, and micromanaging. People who prefer to do things their own way at their own pace shudder at the thought of someone getting all up in their business.

Understandably so. When people are watching your work, it feels like there’s an unspoken pressure and expectation to constantly be making productive, nonstop, linear progress. However, ample research suggests linearity is a loser. Instead, taking regular breaks increases overall efficiency and effectiveness. Much of this great research and practical tips are presented in The Other 90% and The Power of Full Engagement (two of my favorites).

The authors of the latter speak of the power of being “strategically disengaged,” or deliberately choosing not to work in order to work more effectively. I personally love this verbiage and principle, and the science backs it up further. Take a look:

• In 1998, the US Army tested two gunnery crews to see which shooters would land more shells on a target over a three-day window. One group went shooting non-stop. The other group had pre-scheduled, intermittent naps. The nappers actually landed more hits, even though they spent less time shooting. (Plus they got to sleep, which probably irked the other group who stayed up for three straight days. Burn!)
• Long stretches of sitting is linked to diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
• Humans have recurring, physiologically discernible cycles (called circadian and ultradian rhythms) in which our brain-wave activity, heart rates, and hormonal levels vary—making us crave a rest period every 90-120 minutes. It’s what the body naturally needs!
• Students remember more material covered at the beginning and end of study sessions (the primacy and recency effects). Interspersing breaks creates more, shorter sessions to evoke more of these effects.

So walk around, take a nap, breathe, stretch, hydrate, pump some tunes. Tell the over-watching boss you’re going to “strategically disengage” in order to “harness the power of slumber.” That can feel a whole lot more empowering than, “I’m gonna stop working to take a nap.” Just be careful not to take it too far like George Costanza. This sort of behavior could result in your employer strategically disengaging your paycheck:

And to preempt the comments…I’ll tackle the question head-on: “Pete, I suppose you were just ‘strategically disengaged’ during these post-less months of blog absence, then?” Yes. Thanks for asking!

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