Introduction
In today's world, the pressure to constantly stay productive is unyielding. Between school/work, maintaining a social life, staying active, and tackling that growing to-do list, people can often forget that breaks are necessary for many reasons. Taking breaks isn't just a time to not do work; in fact, they're crucial to maintaining productivity, staying healthy (both physically and mentally), and fending off burnout.
Staying Productive
It's all too common for people to work on one task for hours, too focused on it and its looming deadline to even consider taking a break. However, when people push themselves to this state of constant work, cognitive fatigue begins, preventing them from thinking sharply, problem-solving, communicating clearly with others, and more.
Maintaining Health
Over a long period of time, cognitive fatigue can lead to physical health issues such as heart disease, sleep disturbances, and a weakened immune system. Furthermore, sitting at a desk for long hours can lead to back pain, neck strain, and eye discomfort.
These effects also apply to mental health. Without breaks, working with high stress and over long periods of time can lead to depression, frustration, and anxiety.
Keeping a Good Mood
People often think of breaks as a waste of time because it's a period of time when they're not working, but they feel like they should be. However, this isn't true at all. Breaks can provide time for activities that make people happy, whether it's taking to friends or family, going for a walk, having a snack, or practicing mindfulness. These activities can lead to feelings of contentedness and a good balance between work and enjoyable activities.
When and How to Take Breaks
The best time to take breaks is different for everyone, but typically, people can tell when they begin to feel physically or mentally drained when doing work. For most people, this takes about 90 minutes of focused work.
According to Zhanna Lyubykh and Duygu Biricik Gulseren at Harvard Business Review, a longer break doesn't make a better break. Additionally, taking shorter breaks for only a few minutes is more beneficial in the morning, while it's important to take longer breaks in the afternoon. This is a result of the cumulative fatigue from throughout the day.
Conclusion
In a world where everyone correlates time and work with success, it's natural to feel guilty about taking breaks. But the truth is, breaks are an powerful investment for productivity, long-term physical and mental health, and a good mood, allowing everyone who uses them to thrive in their personal and professional lives.
Works Cited
Lyubykh, Zhanna, and Duygu Biricik Gulseren. “How to Take Better Breaks at Work, according to Research.” Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Publishing, 31 May 2023.