How Taking Breaks Can Actually Make You More Productive
While logic dictates that achieving more requires consistently working at peak productivity, the opposite may actually be true: when you experience an afternoon slump and can’t handle even the simplest tasks, it’s likely because you needed a break earlier in the day— science certainly backs this up. Simply put, your brain needs regular periods of rest to maintain peak performance.
After periods of intense work, a short break not only improves your mood but can also increase concentration and productivity. So, if you want to be truly productive, you should incorporate these rest periods into your busy day.
The case for scheduling “brain breaks”
It’s one thing to know you need rest, and quite another to find the time for it. Even with a busy schedule—work, cleaning, studying, childcare, driving, and everything else—you may have the best intentions when it comes to taking breaks, but still find yourself failing to take them. That’s why it’s important to plan them.
In an episode of HBO’s ” Succession ,” Shiv Roy’s character actually carved out a block of time on her calendar for crying. You might not need to cry , but Shiv has the right idea: open your phone calendar and add blocks of personal time throughout the day, however you spend it. Maybe you like scrolling through TikTok, looking at recipes, working on creative projects, closing your eyes for a moment, or calling a friend. Whatever you want to do, prioritize it seriously by carving out a space in your schedule for it. If you use a shared calendar at work or home, block it out so everyone can see it. You don’t have to publicly announce what it’s for; you’ll know. And you won’t let your coworkers or family down, as you’ll be even more productive when it’s all over.
The most important thing is to stick to your plan. Even 15 minutes a day can be helpful, but only if you don’t follow the plan. Taking self-care seriously will help you develop a habit and give you something to look forward to when work gets tough, so treat it as an important part of your workday.
How to Time Your Breaks for Maximum Productivity
Here are a few approaches you can take to ensure your downtime is effective. First, you should block out time and set time limits . These similar yet distinct methods involve not only figuring out exactly how long it will take you to complete a task, but also using a calendar or planner to keep track of it all. Using something like Google Calendar or even a physical planner, you’ll be accounting for every second of your day, so the entire column will be filled with consecutive entries—but not all of those entries will be work-related. This is your chance to fit something enjoyable into your schedule, like a 2:00 PM run to watch a game or an 8:00 PM episode of SVU . You’ll find it easier to schedule downtime if you do it alongside your work-related tasks and if you can see everything clearly in one place.
Second, use the Pomodoro method . This well-known productivity trick encourages you to work for 25 minutes, take a five-minute break, work for another 25 minutes, take another break, and repeat the cycle four times before taking a longer break. Incorporating short breaks this way can make the exercise more palatable if you find it difficult to justify taking time off. Furthermore, Pomodoro is more flexible than it initially appears, and there are many variations. Take animedoro , for example: you work for 40 to 60 minutes with a 20-minute break, roughly the length of an anime episode. Of course, you don’t have to watch anime or be so strict with your schedule; the key is to conscientiously alternate your work sessions with short breaks.