***Contributed Post***
It’s easy to slip into a workaholic mindset. When you want to see progression and results, you don’t want to waste time. Instead, you want to power ahead and work until each task or project that you are assigned (or that you have assigned yourself) is complete. However, it’s extremely important that you take a break every once in a while. Studies have found that something as simple as a thirty second microbreak can boost productivity levels by an astounding thirteen percent. They have also discovered that taking a fifteen second break from staring at a computer monitor every ten minutes can reduce fatigue by up to fifty percent. So, it’s time to start giving yourself a little rest every now and then. Here’s everything you need to know to achieve this.
Know the Difference Between Taking a Break and Procrastination
First things first, it’s important to establish the difference between taking a break and plain old procrastination. While taking a break is healthy and can actually boost your productivity levels, procrastination is a bad habit that will see you put work off until you are extremely stressed and rushing to meet deadlines. When you take a break, you set a specific time to walk away from your desk or the project that you are handling and give yourself an opportunity to relax and recuperate. When you are procrastinating, you simply allow your mind to wander during periods when you should be working hard. So, schedule your breaks and don’t allow yourself to become distracted until it is break time.
Daily Breaks
Let’s start by focusing on daily breaks. It is generally recommended that you have a seventeen-minute break for every fifty-two minutes that you work. However, try to at least incorporate one twenty-minute break into every six hours of work. Try to take this time away from your desk, where you may be tempted to think about work. Instead, immerse yourself in something completely unrelated. Consider playing a few games at Slotathon.com, calling a friend or family member for a brief catch up, or simply scrolling through your social media feeds.
Extended Breaks
As well as breaks throughout the day, you should consider taking more extended breaks every once in awhile throughout the year. Make sure to take adequate holiday leave whether you are heading away on vacation or not. Simply having a few days to relax and recuperate around the house, away from the daily commute and responsibilities of the workplace, can prove extremely beneficial for your overall happiness, health, and wellbeing.
As you can see, it’s extremely important to take a break from work every once in a while. Hopefully, the above steps will help you to achieve this!