Many employees tend to work part-time without taking breaks. An excuse for not taking a leave of absence is a heavy workload, deadline, long-term sick colleague or an urgent request from that very important client.

In order to stay alert and focused, it is very important to take a break even though there are all those emergencies. By the way, the word break can be defined in several ways. It can be a 10 minute break, a long break, but also a holiday (short) vacation. It’s all about what you do or don’t do during that break. More about the benefits of taking a vacation later.

Why are breaks not taken consistently or poorly completed? This is due in part to:

Too much work

Ignorance of the beneficial effects of vacation
Corporate culture where employees feel guilty about their colleagues and management when they leave
According to Forbes magazine, 40% of American workers feel uncomfortable during work breaks.

Taking a break leads to success

When you can’t find it, when your mind gets caught up in the same problem, it’s best to take a break or do something completely different for a while. Trying to do the same thing over and over again will not work. For example:

Clear your inbox or reply to a few emails
Read a book or magazine (not digital)
Wipe your desk or office
Take a simple task
Use the brain training app on your mobile phone

For example, a study of call center employees who regularly took breaks found that their enthusiasm and dedication to their work increased. This has had a measurable impact on sales prices (and thus a company index).

Taking a break therefore improves focus and concentration and provides an opportunity for the employee’s mental reset. After a break, work can continue with a lot of energy and motivation. Working without taking one or more breaks leads to mental and physical fatigue. It can lead to burnout over time.

Do less, gain more

Regular breaks give employees time to refresh themselves and relax. After a break, employees are more motivated and go to work with more energy than before a break.

Decide your times

When the employer provides you with space for that, you can take a break at your discretion. According to scientists, breaks work best when you can find out when a break is taking place. This leads to better understanding and less inclination than when the break is set.

Leave the workspace

When you take a break, you better leave
your workplace and certainly not sit behind your computer screen. If you have the opportunity, go outside to nature or to a city park. According to research, this improves mood and reduces negative emotions. When time is spent on the environment, the heart rate and muscle tone are reduced within minutes. When used for at least 20 minutes in the environment, blood pressure also drops.

Long breaks provide additional benefits

Long breaks provide an opportunity for work-related activities not to take place
done, for example, a specific assignment, arranging a dental visit or even a physical exercise. This creates a better working life balance. It also gives colleagues the opportunity to get to know each other better outside of work, for example while traveling together. This in turn encourages collaboration and communication.