More businesses are starting to encourage microbreaks, and for a good cause. The human body is a complicated machine capable of many things. But if used continuously without breaks, it may burn out. Sleep fills that void by resetting our bodies and reviving our energy at night, but what about during the day?
The Four Advantages of Microbreaks
Microbreaks are an excellent method to reset both your body and mind. Your productivity can increase dramatically in only a few short minutes. According to research, there are four key advantages to taking microbreaks.
Microbreaks Make Concentration Easier
Without rest or breaks, our capacity to concentrate quickly declines. According to research, giving people the opportunity to take brief pauses increased their capacity for sustained attention.
Additionally, those who take microbreaks respond to tasks more consistently and with much fewer omission errors.
Microbreaks Erase Tension
Our productivity is reduced by stress. It makes our work more difficult. It disrupts focused work and increases our susceptibility to mistakes.
Additionally, stress can seriously influence employee morale at work and harm professional relationships. Stress also negatively impacts how happy they are with their jobs.
Microbreaks Make People Happier
Contrarily, happiness is the top factor that increases productivity. When we’re happy, everything appears simpler. Happy workers are less likely to quarrel, be more productive, work independently, and be a pleasure to be around. Microbreaks, according to research, directly improve worker productivity.
Microbreaks Aid in Injury Prevention
Lower back pain is very typical, especially as we become older. Over 80% of people have back pain at some point. Many of these people develop back pain due to working conditions. Due to long periods of inactivity, our muscles begin to suffer.
How to Make Use of Your Work Microbreaks
Microbreaks alone are insufficient. You should know how to use these breaks to get the most out of them.
The following four activities can be done while taking a microbreak at work.
Develop a Pattern of “Stand-Sit-Stretch”
According to a study from Cornell University, the sit-stand-stretch pattern is the most effective way to organize work.
Essentially, the workday is divided into three 30-minute cycles. Each cycle consists of 20 minutes of sitting, eight minutes of standing, and two minutes of standing and moving, including stretching and walking.
Stretching can be as easy as taking a brief stroll or doing some yoga positions that target your lower back. The study also highlights the importance of good posture when standing and sitting.
The Microbreak 20/20/20
To truly take a break and remove ourselves from our screens, it’s advised that we look at least 20 inches away for about 20 seconds every 20 minutes. This little habit significantly lowers eyestrain, which is typical in today’s digital environment.
People constantly switch between their laptops, phones, television, and tablets. Instead, reduce your eye strain by looking away now and then.
Give Your Mind a Rest
There is a limit to how much information our brain can retain at once. According to research, our capacity to accomplish tasks has a diminishing rate of improvement over time. After 90 minutes of focused labor, our productivity decreases. Breaks provide us a chance to renew our focus and avoid mental fog.
https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/09/science-tells-you-how-many-minutes-should-you-take-a-break-for-work-17/380369/
http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/CUESitStandPrograms.html
https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/20-20-20-rule#prevention
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494415000328
