In music, the best songs often have moments where the music disappears completely. Pauses have a purpose that allows a listener to appreciate what came before and anticipate what’s coming next. The break can look awkward when written down or described but the experience of it makes the song that much better.
Graphic designers also have a special place for white space. If every pixel of the screen is occupied by a design element, the eye is not given the opportunity to experience what is happening. “It’s too busy” is almost always shorthand for “Needs more white space.”
Pauses in our daily routines should work the same way. The “mental health day” is often code for needing some white space in our work. Leaving ourselves no time to clear out what we were doing before starting the next big thing does no one any good. It’s important to ensure we are actually ready and engaged before starting. False starts cost more time than delayed starts.