Having a Rough Workday? Here's Why Taking More Microbreaks Can Help You Recover

In our desperate attempt to attain better productivity levels at work, we tend to compromise our physical and mental health, which may in consequence lead to burnout and depression. As such, this makes it crucial that we take all self-care measures that we could to prevent us from reaching the stage when all we could think about is quitting.

Taking breaks, while seemingly inconsequential to alleviating feelings of physical and mental restlessness, is actually essential and an integral part of our day-to-day life in the corporate world. Aside from taking lunch breaks to eat and fill the stomach, micro breaks are yet another opportunity for hardworking employees like you to get your mind off things that stress you out.

In this blog post, we'll dive deeper into the benefits of taking short breaks and discuss best practices to make the most of them.

What are Microbreaks?

What are micro breaks? Simply put, break time that takes 10 minutes or less are considered microbreaks. Even the full minute you take to stand up and do a quick body stretch after receiving a prolonged call from a customer can be considered as such. These are beneficial to help you not to feel overwhelmed by the routine tasks that lie ahead.

In a study zeroing in on microbreaks, the researchers found that these small and short breaks legitimately help boost employee wellbeing if, and only if, spent wisely and the right way. According to the co-author and psychology associate professor at West University of Timișoara in Romania, Irina Macsinga, PhD., employees collectively feel the constant need to perform well and better at work, and that microbreaks can help achieve that end goal.

Benefits of Taking Microbreaks during Every Rough Workday

The following sums up the research-backed benefits of taking a short break during every rough workday, or even just a regular day, for that matter.

Reduce emotional and intellectual strains

Irrespective of your nature of work, it's easy to feel emotionally and intellectually strained due to extended periods of working. Microbreaks greatly help to rest your body and mind if only for a short but much-needed time. After taking a short break, you may feel a tad better and ready to work again, but a lot less overwhelmed.

Ease physical discomfort

Having breaks in between work is mandated by labor laws. Humans can only endure so much, and both short and longer breaks provide an opportunity to ease physical discomfort brought forth by continuous physical and mental activity at work. Even simply sitting for hours can be physically demanding, and a quick stretch, a full-minute standing up, and taking deep breaths may already suffice to ease physical strains.

Increase vigor and concentration

A rough day at work causes employees to lose focus and concentration. Taking a necessary micro break could nip this lack of concentration in the bud, help you get reinvigorated, replenish your mental resources, and remain focused after a mentally demanding task.

Boost creativity and analytical skills

If spent correctly, microbreaks can help boost your creativity and analytical skills, which are necessary to help you produce better outputs at work. Microbreaks, moreover, can enable you to generate new and fresh ideas without necessarily taking this moment of respite toward engaging in a yet another work-related activity. The brief time you take to relax and move away from your work desk becomes the time for your brain to rest as well, and in the process reproduce ideas that will help you achieve your work goals.

Manage stress properly

There's arguably no line of work that is not prone to triggering stress among employees. There may be days that are less stressful than others, but stress itself is a part of hustling. Your stress levels can be properly managed by taking microbreaks. When it becomes a little too overwhelming, you can always take your break or politely request for a quick breather to inhale some fresh air outside your working environment. The right employer will never deprive you of your right to take a well-deserved rest if you urgently need it.

Tips to Make the Most of Your Microbreaks

After learning more about the several benefits of taking microbreaks, it's time to learn some more about how best you can apply these essential breaks into your routine at work and improve your physical and mental well being.

Keep them short but worthwhile

Microbreaks are designed to be a source of temporary bliss from the taxing tasks at work. And while they're short and fleeting, you have the ability to make them worthwhile by making sure that every second and minute count. By the time your microbreak starts, do your self-care routine right off the bat and get your mind fully off anything related to your work. This is your time to relax and focus on resting.

Avoid any work-related activity at all costs

Not all breaks become a source of respite. That is, if it is spent still engaging in a work-related activity, it defeats the purpose of taking breaks. Whether it's microbreaks or your regular breaks, it must be intended to shy you away from overworking. In essence, avoid spending your breaks still working. Instead, take them as they are intended: to help your mind and body to rest.

Be occupied with an activity you enjoy

Sometimes the rest that you need is still something that will make your mind work. This is where becoming occupied with activities you enjoy comes to light. With that being said, you can take your microbreaks by engaging in an activity that relaxes you, such as reading or listening to your favorite playlist from Spotify or YouTube. It could also be watching videos of cats and dogs if they're your favorite creatures in the world!

Consider setting reminders to help you remember

It's normal to forget things, including your need to rest and slack off a bit after spending hours' worth of staring and working with your desktop computer or laptop. To help you remember, set up alarms with clear labels that will let you be reminded about your microbreaks. A little reminder can go a long way.

Following these best practices can serve as friendly reminder that humans can only do and take so much stress from work, and that mental and physical health breaks can help calm the mind, trigger positive emotions, and enhance energy levels.

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