Who doesn’t want to be productive? Studies show that the daily structure determines whether someone works productively or not. The secret recipe? Taking breaks more often and recharging the batteries properly – this is how you bring your productivity back to a high level. In this article, we give 15 tips on how to practice better self-management in everyday work.
Study proves: More breaks Increase Efficiency
Breaks are important to recover from work. Research shows that the most productive people are those who take an average break of 17 minutes — roughly every 52 minutes. After all, the brain can only perform at its best for about an hour and then needs some regeneration.
The recommendation is therefore: to take more breaks and work more concentrated the rest of the time. Because: More productive people have more and more effective breaks. During these short breaks, it’s best to leave the office, leave your smartphone and avoid talking about work. Some do light exercises; others go for a walk or have a quick chat with colleagues about non-work topics. In short, they recover.
The reason employees of this type are more productive is because of their ability to organize their day into smaller 50-minute chunks. This allows them to stay focused and always fresh.
Increase productivity – with these 15 methods, your breaks become energy boosters.
Allow yourself small breaks in between for pleasant and relaxing activities. Even a short, 15-minute break can have a significant positive impact on your productivity. To boost your productivity with creative breaks, here are 15 things to try on your next break.
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Listen to a guided meditation
There are many 10 to 15-minute meditations out there that will improve your creativity, relieve muscle tension and free your mind from work stress. All you have to do is put on your headphones, close your eyes, and calm down – even in the midst of everyday “work chaos”.
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Spend your break with a colleague
You may not always feel the motivation to walk away from work on your own. But if you have a co-worker who takes breaks with you, it’s easier for you to establish a new break routine. In addition, it is a good opportunity to get to know your colleagues better.
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Get some fresh air
Leaving your stuffy office and feeling the warmth of the sunlight or the crisp spring air can be a miracle cure for your mind and soul. You will come back feeling ready to approach your work with more energy. Alternatively, if you don’t want to leave the office during your break, you can stretch your body to get some movement while sitting.
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Take a deep breath
Get up and leave your desk. Find a quiet place, sit down, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and don’t forget to smile. Imagine that with every breath, tension, stress, and anxiety leave your body, and calm and relaxation fills your mind with every breath.
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Don’t give tension headaches a chance
Slowly move your neck to the right, and you will notice a slight tension in the neck muscles. Hold this position for about two minutes and then turn your head to the opposite side. You will then feel warmth, flexibility, and increased mobility in your neck and shoulders.
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Observe people in everyday life
Watching people walking down the street, chatting at a nearby coffee shop, or riding bicycles down the street is also a type of meditation that makes you relax.
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Listen to your favorite music
Music can be a good mood changer. Mainly because it is a great way to take your mind off work stress. Humming and dancing for just a few minutes can put a smile on your face and get the blood flowing through your body. The result: You can then work (more) productively again.
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Brain pause with thumb and pinky
This is a great break idea when you need a quick distraction: take your left hand and fold all your fingers in, except for your thumb. Then take your right hand and fold all your fingers in except for the little finger. In other words, the left thumb is up, and the right pinky is up. Now change the roles of your hands. Not that easy, is it?
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Manage your to-do list or declutter your desk
What’s better than looking at your to-do list and quickly revising a few unimportant tasks? Or simply tidy up your desk: it is not only relaxing but also helps you to increase your productivity.
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Eat an apple – But slowly!
During a busy day, when you’re feeling rushed, take a 2-3 minute break to eat something like an apple (or any other fruit you like). Do this very slowly, trying to pay attention to taste, texture, and freshness. Doing certain things at a slow pace may feel odd, maybe even annoying. But after just a few minutes, you’ll feel a lot calmer and less stressed.
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Take a walk – Without a Smartphone!
Leave your smartphone in the office and go outside to take a walk and enjoy nature. You can quickly shake off tiredness and listlessness. Go faster and faster, get your heart rate up, and recharge your mind and body with a sense of freedom.
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Read a magazine or a book
It’s best to choose a reading unrelated to your field of work or the latest news. Give your brain a chance not to think, be stressed, or make decisions.
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Interpret clouds
Release the toddler in you! Stimulate your imagination by seeing animals and other shapes in the clouds in the sky. It helps you unleash your creative potential and take your mind off upcoming deadlines or customer complaints.
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Develop something creative
Write a short, funny poem and dedicate it to a colleague. Draw a picture for your children. Take some photos of your surroundings. Show your creative side and recharge your batteries so that you can work productively again afterward.
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Laugh the tension out of your body
Start with a simple “Ha-ha-ha.” Repeat this until you really have to laugh. A few minutes of real, good laughing from the gut frees you, releases inner tension, and promotes blood circulation.
Final Words
Scientifically speaking, our bodies were not designed to sit in one place for long periods (4 to 8 hours) every day. This behavior is detrimental to the quality of the processing of the tasks at hand. Whenever we do repetitive tasks, we have to deal with cognitive boredom. This can be a long-term obstacle for us to celebrate success in the workplace.
