“I don’t have time for a break.”
“Breaks are just a waste of time anyway…”

Does this sound familiar?

In our daily work lives, we often rush from meeting to meeting, from one to-do to the next. We have our coffee “on the go” (or end up drinking it cold). And real breaks? Not a chance.

Sometimes we might even feel guilty when taking a moment:
“I really should be working…”

Yet studies show: Breaks are anything but a waste of time.

• Breaks promote our personal well-being
• People wo don’t take breaks make more mistakes
• Short, self-chosen breaks can increase work engagement — especially in the afternoon

So breaks aren’t “just” good for our well-being, but also for our work and the quality of our results.

And the best part: It doesn’t take much at all.

A few minutes are often enough:

• Consciously enjoy a cup of coffee (away from the screen)
• Step to the window or get some fresh air
• Take a few deep breaths
• Cuddle a dog

A little nudge:
Try to consciously take one short break today! Not “when you have time,” but because it’s important.

Sources:

Kühnel, J., Zacher, H., de Bloom, J. & Bledow, R. (2017). Take a break! Benefits of sleep and short breaks for daily work engagement. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 26(4), 481–491. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359432X.2016.1269750

Kopardekar, P., & Mital, A. (1994). The effect of different work-rest schedules on fatigue and performance of a simulated directory assistance operator’s task. Ergonomics, 37(10), 1697–1707. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139408964946