It might seem that productivity lies in being able to keep up with your workload and not giving up until you have completed every task on your list.
It’s not realistic to work for 8–10 hours straight. If you want to do more in your day, it is important that you have a plan. Schedule time during the day to take a break from work.
This may seem counterintuitive, but taking breaks from work is key to getting more done. It may sound counterintuitive, but it is essential to being productive. How can you make your day more productive by scheduling regular breaks?
Taking breaks can help you focus.
Did you ever lose focus as you worked on a task for too long? This is not a common occurrence. Researchers at the University of Illinois discovered that your attentional resource decreases when you do a single task over a prolonged period of time. As a result, your ability to concentrate drops. However, the study found that short breaks can help you focus and concentrate over time.
Let’s take, for example, a meeting that lasts two hours with coworkers. It will be increasingly difficult to concentrate on the meeting if you push through for two hours without taking breaks. You can make your meeting more productive by taking short breaks, such as five minutes every 30 minutes.
The bottom line: Focusing on one task can make it difficult to stay focused. If you have a large task to complete, schedule frequent breaks to ensure you are able to focus and stay on track.
Taking breaks improves performance.
Productivity doesn’t mean getting things done. It’s about doing things well.
You must also take breaks if you want things to go smoothly.
Breaks are linked to higher performance at work. You don’t need to take time off from your to-do lists for hours to improve performance. It only takes a few minutes.
According to a 2018 study, microbreaks (such as getting up from your desk to stretch or taking a short break to get a cup of tea) had a positive effect on work performance.
You want to do more and perform better. Take regular, brief breaks throughout the day.
Breaks can be a great way to find creative solutions for problems.
You might find it tempting to give up when faced with a challenging task. Instead, push yourself to complete the task until you have a solution. Complex problems call for creative solutions. The best way to use your creativity to solve them is to let go. Give yourself a break from this difficult task.
One 2017 study showed that switching tasks (i.e., taking a break from the task at hand to concentrate on another) decreased cognitive fixation. It also enhances divergent thinking, which is critical for creativity. The idea is that your brain can stop focusing on a task and start thinking creatively when you take a break. It’s much easier to see the task in a different, creative light and come up with a solution.
Taking breaks lowers stress
When you feel overwhelmed and stressed, it can be difficult to accomplish anything. You need to learn how to reduce stress if you want productivity to grow.
A great way to reduce stress at the office? Taking breaks.
Research has shown that taking breaks at work can reduce stress. The less stressed you are, the easier it will be to accomplish your tasks. You can manage stress better by taking breaks throughout your day. This will also help you increase your productivity.
How to use breaks to increase productivity
Are you ready to make the most of breaks and be more productive at work? These are some ways you can make the most of your breaks.
- Get outside. Get outside if you want to maximise your productivity. An impressive 45 percent productivity increase was observed in a recent study involving over 3,000 managers and employees.
- Take a mindful break… You’ll feel refreshed and ready to go back to work. Spend your break meditating. Meditation is linked to improved focus, decreased stress, and increased creativity. This will give you a significant boost in productivity.
- But also allow for some idle internet time. Many people view surfing the internet as an inefficient activity. It turns out that taking breaks to surf the web can actually increase your productivity. A study showed that “workplace internet leisure browsing” actually increases mental capacity, making it easier to accomplish tasks. You should control your internet browsing. A few minutes of browsing can help restore mental capacity, and you will feel refreshed when you return to work. But scrolling through social media for hours a day is not going to improve your productivity.
Take the time to relax and be productive.
To be productive, you don’t have to work every day. In fact, it is important to take breaks. Now that you understand the importance of breaks in productivity and how to make your breaks more productive, what are you waiting for? You will see a significant increase in productivity if you schedule breaks throughout your day.
Credit: LifeNator