Work Productivity: A Break Every Two Hours Is Essential!

The Latvian company DeskTime found that its employees, who had the highest work productivity, took a 17-minute break every 52 minutes of work. This ratio seems hard to believe. However, scientific studies have proven that our brain can only concentrate for 120 consecutive minutes and then needs 20 minutes of rest. This is explained by the fact that the hormones responsible for brain homeostasis, and thus our concentration, are released in a 90 to 120-minute cycle, followed by a 20-minute interval between each cycle.

All this to say that taking regular breaks will allow you to be more focused and therefore more productive.

Boosting Your Work Productivity: How?

Here are some simple ideas for taking breaks throughout the day to increase your productivity!

• Take a real lunch break: This break is truly important to recharge your batteries. Take a 1-hour break during which you’ll spend 30 minutes eating, the minimum time for good digestion, and 30 minutes resting or walking.
• Go out for some fresh air whenever you get the chance: nothing is better than fresh air to re-energize and clear your mind; 5 minutes are enough to feel completely ready for what’s next.
• Join the smokers: Smokers have a good excuse to take regular breaks and satisfy their nicotine addiction. If you don’t smoke, nothing stops you from going out with them. This will allow you to think about something other than work while your colleagues fill their lungs.
• Go get a glass of water or a coffee: Get up from your chair, go to the water cooler or coffee machine, and drink there. Standing up will increase blood flow to your brain and thus its oxygenation.
• Do a few exercises at your desk: Stand up, stretch your arms as high as possible above your head, then bend towards the floor as if picking something up without bending your knees. This small exercise will relax your back and neck muscles and stretch your legs, which really need it after being bent all day. If you’re afraid your colleagues might make fun of you, do this exercise in an isolated spot.

Try it and you’ll see your productivity increase! Enjoy your break!

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