5 Reasons Why Taking Small Breaks Often Is Good for Your Productivity
20 July 2020: If you’re working from home, there’s no boss who’s looking over your shoulder all the time. On the flipside, your productivity may suffer as a result. Many whose livelihood depends on maintaining a high level of productivity mistakenly try to increase it by working longer, harder, or neglecting their personal needs. But by taking breaks the wrong way or not taking them often enough, you’re doing more harm than good, and your productivity will suffer as a result.
The key? Keep it short and simple while doing it as often as possible. Here’s why:
- Physical movement is good for your health
There’s no need to go for a long walk. Even if it’s just a short trip to the fridge or to the bathroom, it’s a surefire way to get some oxygen to your brain. This ensures that your head will be up to the task at hand. At the same time, your immune system will be getting a boost too. As someone who’s self-employed, how many sick days can you afford to take?
- A burnout can creep up faster than you may think
A burnout is something that builds up over time, but once you’re there, it will be quite a long road to recovery. Work-wise, you’ll be completely incapacitated and almost unable to lift a finger if you leave things progress this far. When the deadlines are nearing, sure, you may not have the luxury of taking a breather as often as you’d like. But if at all possible, a short break will do wonders to clear your mind and restore your energy.
- A short break keeps your stress levels under control
Instead of taking an extra 20 minute nap in the morning (you lazy thing, you), why not postpone it until afternoon? It’s impossible to keep working at an optimal pace when you’re feeling tired and stressed out, not to mention the errors you’ll be making due to a lack of focus. A short bout of sleep can do wonders when it comes to restoring it and although it may feel hard to wake up, your mind will be razor-sharp once more.
If you can’t find time for a quick nap, why not try another activity such as reading a chapter of a book, take a brisk walk, or play a quick online game on this site.
- You’ll feel less tired
When the evening draws closer and you still have work to do, why not try online poker real money casinos, go for a jog, or another adrenaline-inducing activity? As an added benefit, this will also help you control when it’s time for bed. Although it’s impossible to control your body 100% (it tends to have a mind of its own), you can help steer it in the right direction.
- Moments of brilliancy can spark your imagination at unexpected times
More often than not, these will hit you when you’re taking a shower, mowing the lawn, driving your car or similar odd moments. The reason being is that your brain never stops working, even when you’re away from your workstation. How does coming up with creative solutions to work-related problems sound when you’re not actively pumping energy into it?
Conclusion
Nurturing your productivity is always a good idea, but it must be done the right way. In the end, if you burn yourself out, you’ll be unable to work for days or even weeks, so you must never forget the importance of taking regular breaks during work.
