Is taking a Break is important? When working on a complex problem or when you feel that you have too much to do.
However, research has found that taking a break can be very beneficial for you and your work. Micro-breaks, lunch breaks and longer breaks, have all been shown to have a positive relationship with well-being and productivity. By taking regular breaks you can boost your performance.
Although taking short breaks throughout the working day may not have as obvious an impact as taking a holiday, research has found significant benefits. Studies have found that breaks can reduce or prevent stress, help to maintain performance throughout the day, and reduce the need for a long recovery at the end of the day.
A study by Korpela, Kinnunen, Geurts, de Bloom and Sianoja found that taking lunchtime breaks and detaching from work, increases levels of energy at work and decreases exhaustion. Furthermore, one year later it was found to increase vigor and increase energy levels over time.
Social breaks, such as chatting with your peers, have also been found to be beneficial. Social interactions allow you to share your experiences and feel part of a group. This feeling of relatedness, during a social break shows a positive association with feeling recovered after the break.
Taking breaks has been shown to be important in recovering from stress, which can, in turn, improve your performance. Recovering from work stress can restore energy and mental resources and decrease the development of fatigue, sleep disorders and cardiovascular disease.
Tips for ensuring taking a break
- Set an alarm to prompt you.
- Pay attention to any benefits you experience when you take a break – this will lodge in your mind and motivate you to take breaks in future.
- Agree break times with your peers and help each other to stick to the break time you’ve agreed.
