The humble work break can do far more for your productivity than you think. Here are a few tips to use your work breaks to help you relax but also to help you focus when you get back to your desk..
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Plan Your Breaks
The first thing you should do is to plan your breaks. The goal for this step is to have breaks in your daily diary when you need them the most, such as after a meeting, lunch, etc.
If you want to relax with your vape starter kit, take 15 or 20 minutes after lunch; if you just need a coffee break or two, slot them in mid-morning and mid-afternoon.
Time-Blocking
Start practicing time-blocking as a way to balance out your breaks and work. For instance, after two or three hours of concentrated work, a twenty-minute break can do you the world of good.
The aim of time-blocking is to not only ensure that you don’t go the entire day without a break, but also to stop you from taking so many breaks that you fall behind with your work and inevitably get even more stressed.
Take Time for Yourself
The main thing you should be doing on your work break is absolutely nothing. The best way to refocus, decompress, and get ready to head back to work is to not do anything that doesn’t bring you peace and relaxation.
The biggest mistake people make during their breaks is continuing to work but doing it with a coffee or their lunch. Instead, take work out of the equation and do anything but work on your break.
Burn off Stress
One of the main focus killers in the workplace is stress, and you should use your breaks as the time to burn off any stress you may have. This can be done in a variety of ways, and can easily be tailored depending on where you work and how long your break is.
If you have 45-60 minutes for your break, spend 10-15 minutes taking a walk outside. If you have have a much shorter break, practice breathing exercises to help calm you down, clear your mind, and get focused again. The best part about breathing exercises is that you can do them in at your desk.
Fresh Air
Fresh air has a multitude of benefits, and it can most definitely be felt when you have spent hours cooped up in an office. Considering offices aren’t always the most ventilated places you can be, it is important to get outside.
This is especially true in Winter as, without realizing it, you will get far less fresh air than you normally do simply because it is cold and you don’t want to go outside. Still, even if it is only for a couple of minutes, head outside for some fresh air.
Food & Drink
When it comes to food and drink, it is important to eat and drink the right things at the right times. For instance, coffee is perfect for the morning as it will give you the boost you need to overcome a slow start. However, too much coffee will put you on edge and make it even harder to focus.
As for food, including some slow-release carbs such as oats, grains, some fruit, and vegetables, etc, won’t cause your energy levels to spike, but will give you sustained energy. A spike will give you focus for a little while, but the crash will make it very hard to concentrate for the rest of the day.
Do Something Creative
Another great way to get your focus back is to use the other side of your brain and do something creative. Not only does this break the cycle of having to work, but it doesn’t switch your brain off, meaning you are simply redirecting your focus and energy, not stopping it.
This is a better choice for those who struggle with focus to begin with, as you allow your brain to reset without taking a break that could stop your focus.
Consolidate
Another brilliant way to spend a few minutes of your break is to sit back and consolidate. This means writing down the tasks you need to get done in order of importance, which will allow you to focus on what matters when your break ends.
A loss of focus is often caused by having too much on your plate and not knowing where to start; consolidating can almost completely eliminate this problem, and help you get more work done in the process.
Use the Bathroom
Finally, use the bathroom as a way to get a couple of minutes to yourself. While not the ideal place to relax and calm yourself, it is ideal for sneaking in a little bit of time to gather your thoughts without using one of your breaks.
While you shouldn’t be doing this a few times an hour, if you just need a quick boost and reset, you will deeply appreciate having this as a plan B you can pull out your back pocket whenever you need to.
