Need a Break? Make Sure You Take One
Even a 5-minute break can help your brain relax, thus making you more productive and energized.
It seems like it’s getting harder to take a break these days. We live in such a busy world and before you know it, your schedule is maxed out for the rest of the week and it’s still just Monday. Sometimes, it feels like taking a break is a luxury, but it most definitely should not feel that way.
According to Daniel Pink, the author of Drive, breaks are necessary for our brain to relax and recharge. It is so easy to get caught up in work and “just to finish this task” can turn into several hours of additional work that just exhausts you. The truth is, you can try and keep it up, but eventually you’ll have to slow down because burnout is a real thing. In order to prevent that, just make sure you take breaks.
A break doesn’t have to be long. It can literally be the time you need to make yourself a cup of coffee or walk around for 10 minutes. That’s it! That’s all your brain needs to reset. But make sure it happens and it’s just as important as that task you need to get done.
If you’re a fan of exercising, you can use exercise as your break. Not only is exercising good for your body, but it is good for your brain as well. According to Wendy Suzuki PhD, a neuroscientist at New York University:
Exercising to increase your fitness literally builds brand new brain cells. It changes your brain’s anatomy, physiology and function. Every time you work out, you are giving your brain a neurochemical bubble bath.
One thing that I’ve noticed during this pandemic is that people prefer to keep working than take a day off, which would not be the case under usual circumstances. The explanation I was given for this was mostly “I am at home anyway. I might as well work. What else am I going to do?” Well, you can cook, read, clean, or do nothing. Just because you are working from home, it does not mean that your brain and your body do not need a break. You’re still doing the work, be it from home or an office so your brain will still need that break, nothing’s changed there.
Finally, studies have shown that taking frequent breaks actually improves your efficiency and focus. Making sure your work ends when the working hours are over, not doing any work over the weekend, taking vacation days, etc. is actually very important. Sometimes, our mind just wanders and we should let it do so. You’re more likely to get the work done faster if you take a break when your brain needs it. Forcing yourself to sit and stare at the work at hand will not get you moving any faster about finishing the task. It’s happened to me and I am sure it’s happened to you, too.
Breaks should not be frowned upon. We should not feel stressed out because we need to rest and recharge. Quite the opposite. We should embrace the time off because it has proven to be more fruitful than when we suppress the need to rest. Of course, this does not mean we should be taking breaks every ten minutes or so, but you know, find your balance. Listen to your body and you’ll be happier both at work and at home.
