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BENEFITS OF TAKING REGULAR BREAKS WHILE WORKING FROM HOME

Taking regular breaks at work is important to stay productive. This article explains the benefits and how often you should take a break. Learn more about wellness tips by Fitness First!

12 Apr 2021
 In the office, there’s a known scheduled break aka lunch time. In between that, a colleague may stop by your cubicle for a chat or you may do a quick coffee run to beat the mid-afternoon slump. At home, there’s a tendency to be so focused on completing what’s on your to-do list that time passes by in a blur. Before you know it, everyone’s left the Zoom meeting and it’s time to call it a day. Pretty soon, it will feel like you’re stuck in a never-ending grind. Guess what that does to your focus, performance, and productivity?

Beat the rut, take a break. Make break time a part of your work routine – with management’s approval, of course.

 

Determine Your Least Productive Time

Observe yourself for a week or so. What time of the day do you find it hardest to concentrate? There’s no point flogging a dead horse, you’re not going to get much done during that period. Adopt that as your break time.

Set Your Clock Schedule a Break From Work

Decide on the duration and set an alarm to remind you. Don’t forget to set an alarm for the end-of-break time too!

 

Decide What Kind of Work Break

The idea is to take your mind off your usual tasks and responsibilities, so choose something that helps you relax. Music, meditation, adult colouring books, a craft project, jigsaw puzzles … it’s a good idea to decide beforehand so you don’t go about it aimlessly and end up wasting your break time rather than put it to good use.

Set Up a Chill Corner for Work Breaks 

A change of physical environment is also helpful – at the very least, step away from your laptop. If you have the space for it, create a mini sanctuary where you can retreat to during your break time.

References:

 

https://absolutehealthperformance.com.au/recovery/#:~:text=Recovery%20is%20the%20single%20most,of%20new%20goals%20and%20PB's.

https://www.zenefits.com/workest/how-to-boost-productivity-and-stay-motivated-by-taking-breaks-while-wfh/#:~:text=The%20solution%20for%20WFH%20stress%20%E2%80%A6&text=Countless%20studies%20have%20linked%20employees,more%20creativity%20than%20onsite%20breaks.

https://teresamdouglas.medium.com/how-to-build-breaks-into-your-remote-work-day-f25e521ae132

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110208131529.htm

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0963721411434979

https://www.inc.com/melanie-curtin/in-an-8-hour-day-the-average-worker-is-productive-for-this-many-hours.html

https://weworkremotely.com/science-says-you-have-to-stop-taking-breaks-wrong-to-be-more-productive