Daily Recess for Female Entrepreneurs.
Remember recess?
That glorious chunk of time between math and spelling when the world stopped being about grades and became about hopscotch, juice boxes, and total freedom?
Here’s the thing: recess wasn’t just a break. It was a reset.
And as a female entrepreneur, you probably need that reset now more than ever.
We’re here to say: it’s time to bring recess back—80s style.
Why Women Entrepreneurs Need Recess, Too.
Entrepreneurship is exhilarating—but let’s be honest, it’s also exhausting. Meetings, launches, social posts, clients, packaging, pitching, invoices, and remembering to drink water… It’s easy to forget to pause.
But science (and your inner child) agrees: taking intentional, playful breaks boosts creativity, energy, and even productivity.
The difference is—now, you get to design your own recess.
Grown-Woman Recess Ideas — With a Nostalgic Twist
We’ve rounded up some 80s and 90s-inspired ideas to help you hit pause, smile big, and reconnect with the joy of being alive (and not at your laptop).
MOVE Like It’s Gym Class.
Skip rope in your driveway or in your room. Bonus points if you sing a jump rope rhyme.
Run through the sprinkler. Yes, in your leggings. Yes, it’s still fun.
Dance it out to an 80s classic. Try "Footloose", "Maniac", or "Rhythm Is a Dancer".
Cartwheel in the grass. (No one’s watching. Promise.)
CREATE Like It’s Art Class.
Grab some markers and make friendship bracelets or doodle your dream business.
Make a sticker collage. Visit the dollar store or dig into that drawer full of random stickers.
Draw your dream HQ in crayon. Office dog included.
Make a mixtape playlist. Don’t forget to include Debbie Gibson, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Tina Turner.
SNACK Like It’s 3rd Grade.
Dunkaroos. Fruit Roll-Ups. Gushers. Crackers with honey (teddy bear picnics).
Make an 80s-style snack plate: orange slices, Ritz crackers, string cheese, and grape juice.
Have a “juice box and journal” break. You + a notebook + a Capri Sun = bliss.
UNPLUG Like It’s Saturday Morning.
Watch an 80s cartoon clip on YouTube. We suggest Care Bears, Jem and the Holograms, or She-Ra?
Lie on the floor and stare at the ceiling. When was the last time you did nothing on purpose?
Make a fort. Couch cushions, blankets, zero shame.
More FUN + NOSTALGIC RECESS IDEAS for Women Entrepreneurs.
1. Hopscotch on the Driveway.
Grab some chalk and bring back that childhood joy. Who says 8-count boxes are just for kids?
2. Snack Swap with Your Work Bestie.
Bring each other your favorite nostalgic snacks—like Cheez-Its, Little Debbie, or Lunchables.
3. Boom Box Break.
Put on your brightest scrunchie, blast your old school playlist (Cyndi Lauper, Salt-N-Pepa, TLC), and lip sync like your office is an MTV stage.
4. Office Dance Battle.
Pick a friend or teammate, assign a song, and see who brings the best old-school moves (The Running Man is always a winner).
5. Glitter Everything for No Reason.
Decorate your planner, coffee cup, or keyboard with stickers, glitter pens, or anything else you’d love to fill with glitter OR stickers!
6. Recess Toybox Time.
Keep a stash of fun stuff at your desk:
Slinkies
Fidget toys
Mini Etch-a-Sketch
Mood rings
Silly Putty
Colouring or Sticker Book
10 minutes of tactile joy = brain reset.
7. Color Like Nobody’s Watching.
Grab a coloring book (bonus if it’s a vintage Barbie or Care Bears one) and go wild. Inside the lines? Optional.
8. Phone a Friend for Giggles.
Call your childhood BFF (or your biz bestie) and talk only about non-work things. Laugh about old crushes, bad bangs, or the time you tried to cut your own jeans into shorts.
9. Sticker Time for Grown-Ups.
Remember the thrill of getting a gold star or a bubble gum scented sticker on your homework? Time to bring that energy back—CEO style.
Decorate your planner with fun stickers
Make a “just because” sticker collage in your notebook
Send a snail-mail note with silly stickers to a biz bestie
Add some flair to your laptop, water bottle, or phone case
Not into stickers? Washi tape counts. Glitter pens are welcome. Basically, anything that would’ve made your 10-year-old self happy is fair game.
10. Create a “Best Recess Ever” Medal.
Get crafty. Cut a paper circle, draw a star, write “Most Fun CEO” on it, and tape it to your shirt. Wear proudly.
11. Make Recess Part of Your Day.
Why not turn recess into a daily habit? Build in a playful pause you actually look forward to—something that resets your mind, lifts your mood, and sparks a little joy in the middle of all the hustle. Set a 10-minute timer every afternoon to just… play.
Call it:
The 1pm Play Break
Or just plain old Recess
Permission to Play = Permission to Breathe
When you take 10–15 minutes just to play, move, snack, or be silly, something magical happens:
You stop hustling for a second, and you start reconnecting with your creativity, intuition, and joy.
And joy?
That’s fuel for your business.
If little-you could see you now—running a business, making waves, showing up every day—she’d be SO proud. She’d also tell you to go outside, eat a snack, and maybe color something just for fun.
So go ahead.
Close your laptop. Throw on your ‘Walkman’, grab a pudding cup, and let your inner 9-year-old run the show for a few minutes.
You earned it.
It’s recess time. 💖
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“Sometimes the best ideas come after a pudding cup.”
