There are advantages to taking breaks even if the world views taking a break as a way to promote laziness. Your effectiveness and efficiency will improve if you take regular breaks. You can work more intently and for more hours each day if you’ll give yourself a break at least once per hour. You won’t just get more done. You’ll be happier and less stressed, too.
The advantages of taking breaks:
1. You’ll get more done. Try a little experiment at work. First, spend a day attempting to do nothing but work for the entire day and note how much you accomplish. The following day, focus on your work for 30 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. Notice how much more you get done. The same applies to physical activities as well. Studies have shown the average marathon runner completes the race faster and more comfortably if regular walking breaks of up to a mile each are taken.
2. You’ll feel much better at the end of the day. When you tried the experiment above, how did you feel physically and mentally at the end of the day? You’ll feel nearly as good at the end of the day as you did at the beginning if you take breaks. Without breaks, you’ll feel exhausted.
3. The quality of your work is improved. Our ability to focus is limited. Our mind begins to wander at some point. Before you know it, you’re full-on daydreaming. The quality of your work is lowered when your focus begins to shift away from the task.
Taking regular breaks is an effective way to ensure the quality of your work doesn’t suffer.
4. Breaks provide opportunities for evaluation. Make it a regular habit to check on how efficiently you are working. If you put your head down and never look up, you can find yourself lost in the weeds. A break is an opportunity to reevaluate the situation.
5. Taking a break can lower your stress. To prevent pressure from building up, take a break from whatever it is that’s causing you stress. Your ability to work is compromised as your tension rises beyond a certain level.
6. Breaks help to prevent boredom. Studies suggest that it’s more effective to regularly disengage and reengage with goals rather than focusing on them for long periods. The same idea applies to your work. Avoid spending too much time on one task before taking a break. You’ll maintain a higher level of interest in your work.
7. You can use your breaks to get other things done. Imagine how much you can accomplish with eight or more 10-minute breaks each day. You could spend those 10 minutes to get a little exercise, to meditate, to stay in touch with friends and family, to tidy, to pay bills, or to read a book.
A break is a time of inactivity. Breaks don’t have to be all napping and daydreaming, although that’s not a bad way to spend a break.
How to make the most of your break
You might be wondering how long a break should be and how frequently should you take them. The ideal break schedule is a 5-minute break every 30 minutes or a 10-minute break every 60 minutes. It can also be helpful to take a more extended break every 2-3 hours.
Try a few different schedules and see what works for you. As a general rule, tasks that require more brainpower or muscle power require more breaks.
Breaks are an enjoyable way to add hours to your day. Your productivity will increase, and you’ll also enjoy your free time more since you won’t be exhausted. Give yourself a break today and enjoy the many benefits taking regular breaks provides. If you would like more productivity tips, my friend Connie Ragen Green has a free 30-day Productivity Challenge. This challenge will help you move forward with more clarity and focus while improving and enhancing your personal and professional life. You can save the daily tips to review when you need a little push. I have participated in this challenge, and it is an excellent 30-day experience. She is always adding new tips, so you receive her help for more than 30 days. Again, this challenge is free. Click here to visit this site.
