The Importance of Taking Breaks
Regardless of whether you are working onsite or remotely, September is one of the busiest and most exciting times of the year for the McMaster community. New students, new challenges, and a full workload can make the vacation used in the summer seem like a distant memory. That is why it is incredibly important to ensure you are still taking your breaks as a means to promote self-care.
There are plenty of benefits to taking your breaks. First, breaks can prevent decision fatigue. Taking a break from making decisions within work allows you to refuel to make better decisions than you would without a break. Taking breaks can increase creativity, promote healthy habits, and help you feel valued and appreciated, because your time and wellness are being respected. Movement breaks are also beneficial for emotional and physical well-being, and can include whatever movement you feel comfortable doing. Lastly, taking a break before becoming fatigued helps improve memory and therefore allows you to better remember what you have learned. Each of these benefits show that breaks improve your quality and ease of work, while ensuring a consistent practice of self-care and burnout prevention.
Source: Michigan State University
Timing and Duration of Breaks
In a peer reviewed study conducted by SA Rudolph, fewer than half of all employees surveyed said they took a regular lunch break away from their desk on an average work day. Additionally, 20% admitted to eating lunch daily at their work space, while another 13% said they never took lunch breaks at all. Not only is the traditional lunch break important, there are many other strategies to assist with taking smaller breaks throughout the day.
Integrate 5 Minute Breaks Every Hour. Be sure to spend time away from your work station during these breaks. These breaks are an ideal time to integrate some movement throughout your day, as well as an opportunity to eat well and hydrate. To keep yourself accountable, schedule them into your calendar to give yourself a reminder.
Work in Bursts. This is another trick to ensure smaller breaks are being taken. Work in a 25 minute burst, and then take a 5 minute break. Repeat this for 2 hours before taking a longer break.
Shorten Meetings. An easy way to ensure that breaks are prioritized is do away with traditional meeting times. For example, if you usually schedule a meeting for one hour, shorten that time to 50 minutes, to give meeting attendees some time to take a break. This is especially important for those who have back-to-back meetings for long stretches of time.
Source: SA Rudolph, The Importance of Employee Breaks
Employee Well-being, Employee Well-being Newsletter