Take a Break: Why Taking Breaks at Work Might Increase Productivity

If you’re trying to have an extra productive day at the office, “taking a break” is probably the last thing on your mind. Why would you take a break when there’s so much to get done? And, from a management perspective, why would you encourage your staff to take breaks when they have so many tasks to complete? Isn’t that counterproductive?

Actually, it’s not. Breaks, and other activities that might seem to be “taboo” at the office (like listening to music or holding social events), can actually help increase productivity and make your workplace more enjoyable and more efficient. Here’s how. 

Avoid burnout.

“Burnout” has become a popular phrase these days, and not without cause. The feeling of being burned out has become increasingly common among the workforce in recent years, and its effects are detrimental, in both the short- and long term. Taking a break, even a short one, can help you reset, as you step back from your responsibilities and allow your brain to rest.

Build camaraderie.

Breaks are often a time for socializing among coworkers. This is important because good relationships are key to productivity at work. The better the members of your staff get along, the more easily they’ll be able to collaborate on projects, and the better they’ll be at working together to solve problems. Work relationships also help improve employee morale, and can even encourage employees to stay at a company longer, decreasing turnover.

Improve mental well-being.

Work is a big cause of stress for many people. Daily stress can easily develop into a long-term problem, causing mental, emotional, and even physical issues down the road. If breaks are used appropriately, they can help release that stress so that your overall well-being is improved. 

Boost creativity.

Breaks are a great way to get the creative juices flowing. Sometimes, working tirelessly on a project can make it hard to see things from a fresh perspective. Stepping away from your desk to take a walk, listen to some music, or have a conversation with a friend can help recharge your creativity, so you can bring new ideas to the table.

Renew motivation.

When you work too long on one thing, and you get tired of it, it’s easy to start wondering why you did it in the first place. Taking regular breaks can help you renew your motivation as you also renew your energy. As this study points out, “even brief diversions from a task can dramatically improve one’s ability to focus on that task for prolonged periods.”

Resting improves learning.

Just as our bodies and minds need daily sleep, they also need periodic rest. Not only is this beneficial to our mental health, but it can actually improve our learning and memory. As this article says, “[downtime] is essential to both achieve our highest levels of performance and simply form stable memories in everyday life.” Conversely, pushing ourselves too hard may impede our ability to do our best work.

Taking and allowing regular breaks at the workplace may seem counterintuitive, but in reality, it’s one of the best things you can do to encourage and promote productivity. 

For help finding new IT talent and other experienced staff members, contact EDI Staffing today to speak with one of our recruiting specialists. With our knowledge and industry expertise, we can help you find the right talent for the job whether it be full-time, remote, contract-to-hire, etc.