Recess Break: How Andy the "Anxious" Aardvark Beats Stress Like a Mental Health Warrior
- Bruce Schutter
- Jul 1
- 6 min read
I was downtown, just trying to grab a drink and enjoy a few quiet minutes, when I heard it—a frantic rustling sound and rapid muttering coming from behind a planter box.
“A list for the list, check the locks, what if I forgot the thing, and I didn’t answer the email and—oh no, what if I sound weird when I talk?”
I peeked around the corner and sure enough, there was Andy the “Anxious” Aardvark, visibly overwhelmed and absolutely fried from worry. He looked like he had mentally run a marathon—twice—and forgotten where he left his shoes.
“Andy,” I said gently, “you okay?”
“I’m out of steam,” he said. “I’ve worried myself into full shutdown mode. I know I’m supposed to be using my Warrior Tools but my brain is on the fritz.”
I smiled. “Perfect. I’ve got just the thing—a powerful tool straight from my book, 84 Mental Health Warrior Tools. You, my friend, need a Recess Break.”
Andy Knows My Story
Andy isn’t just some random panicked aardvark. He’s a fellow Mental Health Warrior—and a loyal member of Marvin the “Mental Health Warrior” Cat’s crew. Like many of us, Andy lives with GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), where even the simplest tasks can spiral into full-blown catastrophes in his head. Worry isn’t just a passing thought for Andy—it’s a constant background noise.
But Andy also knows my story.
For over 20 years, I battled Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD—challenges that pushed me to the edge. I felt so powerless, so hopeless, that I tried to end my life. But in that darkest moment, I discovered something that changed everything: Mental health is the key to overcoming any challenge.
With that truth in hand, I created the Mental Health Warrior Program—a bold new SELF-HELP approach designed to put YOU in charge. Because no one knows your struggles like you do—and that means no one is better equipped to choose the tools to overcome them.
This program gives you the structure, support, and flexibility to take charge of your emotions, rise above challenges, and build the life you truly want.
That’s when Andy joined the crew. He was ready for something different—something that didn’t come with guilt, pressure, or the false promise of being “fixed.” What he wanted was progress. Real tools. A path forward that worked with his brain, not against it.
So when I told him about the Warrior Tool called the “Recess Break,” his ears perked up.
The Power of the Recess Break
“Think of it like those old-school recess breaks from elementary school,” I told Andy as we sat on a nearby bench. “Back then, they gave us space to run around, play, laugh—reset our minds. Now? As adults? We forget we even deserve to pause.”
Recess Breaks are intentional moments of non-productivity—designed to reset your mind and body without requiring you to reflect, meditate, or do anything “useful.” No goals. No outcomes. Just freedom, playfulness, and permission to breathe.
Andy blinked. “So… I don’t have to be productive during it?”
I smiled. “Exactly. In fact, if you are productive, you’re doing it wrong.”
Why Doing Nothing Is Actually Something
I leaned back and looked at Andy, who was clearly teetering on the edge of burnout. His mind had been racing all day, and I could see the toll it was taking.
“Here’s the thing,” I said, “when your brain’s on overdrive—especially with anxiety—burnout isn’t just possible, it’s inevitable.”
Taking a Recess Break isn’t wasting time. It’s like rebooting a computer that’s frozen from having too many tabs open. You don’t need to analyze or fix anything. You just need to step away.
“By walking away for a few minutes,” I told him, “you’re not quitting. You’re recharging. And that’s what gives you the strength to come back strong, clear, and focused.”
Andy raised an eyebrow. “You really think doing nothing is going to help me feel less overwhelmed?”
“Not only do I think it,” I said with a grin, “I live it.”
And then I shared three ways I personally take Recess Breaks—simple tools that help me reset when life feels like too much.
Three Ways I Take My Own Recess Breaks
1. Zombie Shoot’em Up Game
“When I’m overloaded and my brain feels like it’s trying to juggle flaming bowling pins, I grab the controller and spend 15 minutes blasting digital zombies,” I told him.
Andy raised an eyebrow. “Zombies?”
“No strategy. No moral takeaway. Just chaos, sound effects, and pure, mindless fun,” I said with a grin.
What makes it work? It gives my brain a total pattern interrupt. By diving into something completely different from my stress, my mind gets a break from looping thoughts—and that reset actually helps me return calmer and more focused. By the end, I usually feel like the stress got zapped right out of me—along with a few fictional zombies.
2. Music + Cold Soda
“Other times,” I continued, “I just sit back with a cold soda and let my favorite music fill the room. No phone calls, no emails, no problem-solving. Just music.”
I saw Andy’s shoulders relax slightly. “I could do that,” he said quietly.
Exactly. This one works because music engages your brain without demanding anything of it. It naturally regulates your nervous system and shifts your emotional state. Add something tactile and refreshing—like a cold drink—and suddenly, you’ve grounded yourself without even trying.
It’s simple. But deeply effective.
3. Porch Sitting
“And then there are days I don’t move at all. I just sit on the porch. No phone. No journal. No plan. Just me, the breeze, and whatever thoughts wander through.”
Andy blinked. “You just… sit?” “Yep. That’s the whole thing. I let my brain stop racing and just exist for 10 to 15 minutes.”
It works because it gives me space. No pressure to reflect or be mindful—just stillness. And that stillness gently resets my system. When I return to the rest of my day, I’m more centered. My emotions don’t feel like they’re running the show—I do.
The Recess Break Blueprint (for Andy and You)
Before Andy headed off to try his first Recess Break, I gave him a quick step-by-step guide—something simple he could actually use, even on a day when his brain was doing somersaults.
“Here’s how to make it work,” I told him. “It’s four easy steps—just follow the blueprint.”
Step 1: Set Aside 5–10 Minutes
Find a small window of time in your day when you can step away from everything—no emails, no texts, no to-do lists chasing you down. This is your time. Guard it like it’s recess in 4th grade.
Step 2: Do Nothing (and Actually Enjoy It)
This isn’t about meditation or productivity. This is about fun, rest, or pure silliness. Play a game, stare at the clouds, dance like no one’s watching—whatever makes your inner adult chill and your inner kid grin.
Step 3: Channel Your Inner 10-Year-Old
Remember recess as a kid? It wasn’t structured or serious—it was freedom. So tap back into that. Doodle. Hum a song. Eat grapes one at a time. Do something delightfully pointless that makes you smile.
Step 4: Notice the Recharge!
Afterwards, check in with yourself. Do you feel lighter? More relaxed? Even just slightly less overwhelmed? That’s your nervous system saying, “Thank you.” That’s your mental fuel tank getting refilled.
I patted Andy on the back. “If you followed those steps,” I said, “then congrats—you just added a new Warrior Tool to your arsenal. And the best part? You didn’t even have to break a sweat.”
He looked at me and grinned. “Okay… I’m starting to get it.”
Recess Is for Everyone (Even Adults)
“Being in charge of your mental health can feel overwhelming,” I told Andy as we wrapped up our chat. “But small actions like this? That’s how we win. One choice at a time.”
He nodded slowly. “It’s kinda scary… but it also feels good. Like… I can actually do this.”
And that is the point.
You don’t need to fix everything today. You don’t need to have it all together. You just need one break, one breath, one tool that helps you shift the day in your favor.
Recess Breaks are the perfect reminder that you’re still human—still capable—and still worthy of joy, fun, and rest. No matter your age, diagnosis, or to-do list, taking a break doesn’t set you back.
It sets you free!
Wrap Up
Before Andy left, I handed him a copy of my book, 84 Mental Health Warrior Tools—a guide he could carry into every day, fully armed with strategies to face whatever challenges might come. I gave him a firm nod and one final piece of parting advice, Warrior to Warrior:
“Next time you’re stressed out, overwhelmed, or running on empty… give yourself permission to stop. To breathe. To just be.”
Because this is how we recharge—with a Recess Break:
Grab that game controller.
Blast your favorite song.
Stare at the clouds like it’s your job.
These moments aren’t you checking out—they’re you stepping up. This is how Warriors take back control and rise above every challenge.
Bruce Schutter
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