Benefits in taking a break

Humans have a hard time concentrating for long periods of time. Studies have shown that the majority of employees are only productive for three out of eight working hours of the day. When people say they’re taking a “break” for a lot of us this just means moving from one screen to another. Whether it’s from your computer screen to your phone screen, TV, or gaming console. It’s important for your eye health, as well as your mental focus, to take breaks from staring at screens for long periods of time. 

Some think that working through your breaks will keep you focused, and retain your productivity but your performance actually steadily decreases the longer you have to focus on one particular task for an extended time. 

Check out these tips on how you can take effective breaks during your work day, to become less stressed and more productive.

How to take effective breaks at home

Bond with your pet

After the events of 2020 there’s an unprecedented amount of people working remotely or from home. This means that you get to spend much more time with your pet.

Take them for a walk, feed your fish, play with your cat, give all of your furry friends a cuddle and trust me, they’ll appreciate it. You will also feel better relaxing and taking a break from the computer.

Make sure you schedule your breaks in advance. Knowing when you are due for a break is an excellent way to ensure you don’t forget to give yourself that much needed time.

Make a healthy snack

In office settings, many employees grab quick and easy snack options that may not be very healthy. Working from home provides a perfect opportunity to snack more responsibly.Make sure you plan what you’re going to eat in advance so you can have something that’s much better for your body and mind than grabbing a cupcake or unhealthy muffin.

Snacks improve your energy levels and are shown to increase effectiveness if we are feeling lethargic. Take time on your break to prepare or snag healthier options that will keep you fueled until the end of your work day.

How to take effective breaks away from home 

Prioritize the Outdoors

We all need sunshine and fresh air, and that’s especially true in current times when we’re constantly inside in front of our computers.The sun provides essential vitamins and nutrients for our bodies like Vitamin D. Not giving yourself enough time to step away for fresh air and sunshine could be hindering your productivity and your overall health. 

Fantastic ways to take advantage of your breaks and the outdoors could be going on short walks, spending time at your local park, or even taking time to hangout in your yard. Any way you can get outside is a win!

Create a break project

If you’ve ever wanted to complete a jigsaw, build something but weren’t ever able to find the time, or maybe even knit a scarf, consider making that a break project.

If you take just 10-20 minutes out of your day, that is plenty of time to make consistent progress on a variety of different projects; it’s productive and a fun effective use of your time.

You can also take time to get involved with your community, whether this means helping with an event or helping out with a sports team you’ll feel great disconnecting from work and help your health along the way.

Congrats, you have the tools you need to take effective breaks!

Now get back to work and prioritize your breaks accordingly.