Why breaks make people more productive

Taking breaks is one of the secrets of productive people. They know that taking breaks
is part of maintaining good health. Research shows strong correlation between the
health of a workforce and their corresponding productivity. Power naps in the afternoon
are known also to boost productivity. A nap 30 minutes or less would be most beneficial
to boost productivity in the difficult hours after the lunch break.
Taking breaks could also be in the context of taking vacations. All of us have paid leaves
but some people dont utilize them. Thats a bad move and that can mean lesser
productivity. Taking a vacation replenishes job performance while not taking vacations
mean more mistakes and resentment towards colleagues. So take the time off your
company gives you. Youll do yourself a favor and them as well as a result of your
increased productivity upon your return from your vacation.
In fact, scientists have found a formula for maximum productivity at work. Work for 52
minutes and then take a break for 17 minutes. Or to simply on an hourly basis, work for
45 minutes, and then take a 15 minute break.
Even microbreaks (breaks of less than 5 minutes) can have significant boosts of
productivity. This infographic shows that taking regular breaks of 1.5 minutes can
increase your productivity by 6.45 percent. Therefore, a quick walk to the bathroom or to
the pantry to get some water can be a quick way to boost productivity. Apparently, 2:55
pm is the most unproductive time for workers, so this can be one of the times you can
take a microbreak.
Our brain has a limited capacity to focus and by not taking a break, our brains can be
overwhelmed and so we end up suffering a burnout which totally destroys productivity.
So taking breaks is one way to replenish our brains capacity to do productive work.
Another benefit of taking breaks is a cognitive one. Researchers from University of
Illinois at Urbana Champaign assert that taking breaks provides goal reactivation. This
means after we take a break, we refresh our minds on what we are trying to achieve
and so we remain focused on the task at hand which contributes to productive work. By
not taking breaks, we might lose sight of our overall objective.
The pomodoro technique is a simple system to follow to make sure you have regular
breaks. A pomodoro consists of a 25 minute work interval of intense focus and
productivity and then taking a 5 minute break after that interval. You can use a normal
watch for this task or you can download an app for this.

Another good break to take on a regular basis is by taking a walk. Even better if its in a
park or it involves Mother Nature. Walking boosts creativity and it helps you refocus
after your walk.
Its important we dont fall into the busy trap. We need to carve out regular breaks in
our working time to recharge. It may seem youre taking one step back when you take
breaks, but actually youre taking three steps forward after each break.