Ever wondered whether it is better to complete your work in small periods of time or to just power through it? Studies have shown that most full-time workers spend more than the typical 40 hours per week at work, and many employees do not even break for lunch.
There is no federal mandate on employee breaks, but some states require them. Regardless of what legal requirements you are under, breaks make a total business sense.
It is like feeling thirsty it is your body’s way of begging water, taking a break when you are exhausted is your body begging for downtime. There are benefits to stopping before you’re completely exhausted. Below are some of them.
TIME TO REEVALUATE YOUR GOALS FOR THE DAY
Even taking a 5 minute break every couple of hours to reassess your daily goals can make a big difference in the way your day goes. People know how a hundred things are waiting to redirect your focus at any given time. So by taking stock in what you’ve done and what you want to complete before the day is over, you are able to better yourself up for success.
A CHANCE TO REFOCUS ON YOUR WORK
Too often, the time you have for actual work is taken up by emails, meetings, and little tasks that seem to get you nowhere. A brief break in the workday is your chance to push the restart button. You can make an effort to spend the next block of time on an important project and vow to block out any distractions.
CREATIVITY BOOST
How many times have you struggled to figure out a solution to a problem – or come up with new creative ideas at work, only to have the perfect idea or solution hit you when you are enjoying dinner with friends and family? Spending too many hours with your nose to the grindstone can actually do more harm than good, when it comes to creativity. Taking a few strategic breaks throughout the day will give your mind a chance to organically come up with the solution you are looking for.
LOWERING STRESS BY ALLOWING DECOMPRESSIONS
When employees have too much stress, they can’t produce quality work. That is why periodic breaks can allow for a little decompression. Whether your employees can do some breathing exercises, read a chapter of a book, or even get a massage at work, anything that reduces office stress will improve a workday break.
Brain breaks are essential to every employee’s morale. Studies have shown that while breaks don’t always increase productivity, they do lead to higher job satisfaction, a more balances emotional health, and a stronger to go above and beyond.
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