“People can measurably improve their computer productivity and substantially reduce their risk of repetitive stress injuries if they would simply work smarter.”
- Alan Hedge, director of Cornell’s Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory
Your workweek is flying by and you don’t seem to be doing as much as you should. Is it because you have too much work to do or is it because you’re not as productive as you can be?
The answer is probably a mix of both. But did you know that a simple thing like getting up from your chair and going to the bathroom can work miracles for your productivity?
Staring at a computer can often lead to brain-dead moments where the mind simply wanders off unconsciously. The idea is to avoid, or at least minimize, these extracurricular midday mental journeys.
Taking breaks can go a long way in helping your body recover from any activity. The length and frequency of breaks that are right for you depend on the type of work you are doing.
Stopping the activity and relaxing is one way to take a break, but there are other ways, also. For instance, just changing tasks-perhaps from sitting while typing to standing while talking on the phone-can help some muscles relax while others remain productive.
But why do we not allow ourselves the time to take a ‘Time out’?
There are many genuine reasons for needing to complete jobs and tasks, however we may also on occasion have ‘hidden agendas’ as to why we cannot stop for a break. Some of these reasons might be:
Ego: Some people simply enjoy boasting about, ‘how late they had to work in order to complete a project’ or ‘how much effort they invested in order to complete the job so quickly’ – this type of person is often looking to impress others with their efforts, thereby increasing their ego in the process.
Time: “I can’t stop, I just have to get this finished”. Does this sound familiar? “I can’t stop because the job has to be finished, WHY? So I can move straight on to the next thing, and the next, and the next etc…” this person will find that there is always something that has to be done, which will constantly prevent him/her from taking a break.
The need to be needed: A mother managing the household, kids and other chores may feel as if her household will collapse if she were to put her feet up or take a weekend off! By not taking a break she can keep convincing herself that her role is crucial and the family would collapse without her input. This may indeed be true, but is still not a good enough reason to prevent her having a rest!
But, allowing your mind and/or body to rest can help re-focus your attention, sharpen your wits and increase motivation. In addition, taking time out helps to relieve stress, can aid the recovery of tired muscles and also promotes the discovery that there is more to life than just work.
Sometimes your mind feels blank but after taking a break, you can return to the subject matter with fresh eyes and a clear mind and it all seems much easier.
So, get away for a few minutes to clear your mind, get your blood circulating again, and recharge your batteries. And remember, whatever it is that you enjoy doing:
1. Allow yourself (time off) to do it.
2. Do not feel guilty (about taking time off).
3. Enjoy the benefits (time off) will give you.
4. Understand that no matter how important you are (or feel you are) life will continue (in the office, at home, on the playing field) whilst you enjoy a break.
So, workaholics take note! There is a fine line between focusing on a task to see it through to completion, and doggedly sticking with it to exhaustion.
Letting yourself reach the point of fatigue has serious, negative long-term effects on your energy and health. If you pace yourself throughout an intense period of work by taking breaks and doing creative activities, not only will you complete the project with energy to spare, but the quality will be much higher.
Thank you for allowing yourself a five-minute break to read this. 
If you liked this article, please bookmark it on del.icio.us or vote for it on Digg. Thank you!
Jerry
Great post – now if I can just stop staring at my screen for two seconds. Seriously though you are right on, it is very refreshing to take a break and breathe and come back to what you are working on. I try to schedule breaks every 30 minutes when I am writing, even if it’s just to get up to get some water or stretch.
November 24, 2006 at 7:49 am
Steven Bao
Great post – I want to add though, I usually set a time limit for it, and stick to the limit; once it is up, I get back to work. Which means it forces me to get back to homework after my daily Reddit check.
December 2, 2006 at 11:01 pm
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December 3, 2006 at 9:11 am
Ririan
Jerry Also try taking a 20 min break every 90 min.
The basic idea is that every hour and a half or so you need to take a rest break – if you don’t you get tired and lose your mental focus, you tend to make mistakes, get irritable and have accidents. If you continue to ignore your need to take a break you can experience more and more stress until you actually get sick.
When you learn how to recognize your need to take a 20 minute break you can convert your stress into a healing response. Its that wonderful feeling of comfort and well being that you naturally have when you are tired but let yourself have the freedom to take well deserved rest.
Steven be careful with these breaks. Don’t start your reward on the break or anything else, for that matter, that you might use as an excuse to not go back to your homework.
December 5, 2006 at 1:22 am
zsugiart
My God!! how true this is, probably the chief reason why I am so workaholics is that I have that feeling that if I don’t do the stuff that I do, the whole thing might collapse – I don’t want it to happen like that but because that’s the way I have conducted myself, that;s how it has become right now. ppl gets too dependent on me, and you are dead-on right:
“Understand that no matter how important you are (or feel you are) life will continue (in the office, at home, on the playing field) whilst you enjoy a break.”
I need to procrastinate more!!! :-pp
And the idea of 20 minute break every 90 minute, is not too bad either. I remember when I was in uni, the classes is usually broken up into 1 hour-classes and 2 hour-classes. I remember that for the 2 hour classes, my focus and concentration just deteriorates after 1.5 hours!!
anyway i’m off to work now. you have a very wonderful blog, keep it up!
December 7, 2006 at 2:03 pm
Ririan
zsugiart, thank you and here are some more advices on taking breaks at work from Trevor Dumbleton:
“One of the best ways to manage workplace stress is to take a break every so often. This means that you should give yourself a short break about every fifteen minutes or so and avail yourself of a break of a few minutes about every hour.
If you have the self-awareness to notice that you are not able to focus completely, you should give your eyes a break and take a quick stretch break in your chair. These breaks should be taken about every fifteen minutes, as they will allow your brain to recover a little bit of energy and allow you to return to the task at hand.
Additionally, every hour, stand up and walk away from your desk. This break should consist of some task not related to work or your desk and it is vital for maintaining concentration and reducing job stress. Go get a soft drink, take a restroom break, or simply walk the halls for about 3-5 minutes.
This will not only give your body a break, it will provide your mind with an opportunity to relax. It is the simple act of doing something mindless that helps your mind. Just like muscles, the brain needs a rest and recovery period in order to get its strength back. Remember, you cannot remain completely focused forever, just like you cannot sprint forever.”
December 7, 2006 at 4:07 pm
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[...] 19. Take some time off from work. Stop right now. Stand up and move away from your computer. Well, read this article first, then do it. A simple thing like getting up from your chair and going to the bathroom can work miracles. Staring at a computer can often lead to brain-dead moments where the mind simply wanders off unconsciously. The idea is to avoid, or at least minimize, these extracurricular midday mental journeys. Going to the window and looking outside allows for a quick fix. [...]
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April 25, 2008 at 4:55 pm
marsha
Oh boy….couldn’t agree with this post more.
July 23, 2008 at 6:18 pm