Take a Break and Increase Your Productivity

Yes – you read it right, by taking mini breaks throughout the day you can actually increase your productivity. Research and studies have suggested taking 10 minute breaks every one to two hours can refresh your brain and allow you to think more clearly, focus on the task at hand, and optimize your efficiency.

Tim Ferris, author of The Four Hour Work Week, also suggests taking breaks to minimize the wasted time spent on distractions. Our minds are only good for so long before they start to wander to other activities or we get side-tracked easily. Taking a break can recharge you and help you maintain focus. Here are some tips on how to give yourself permission to take a break:

1. Schedule tasks in one to two hour intervals.

2. Set a timer in your clock after one or two hours in order to stretch, go to the bathroom, fill up your water bottle, or momentarily detach yourself from the task at hand.

3. Turn off known distractions such as social media or email notifications.

4. Constant emails can be distracting. Set aside specific times to respond to emails so you do them in chunks versus as soon as they pop up.

5. Set aside specific times to respond to social media so you spend about 10 minutes in the AM and 10 minutes in the PM. This will save you loads of time during the day.

A break only needs to be five to ten minutes. Just that mini moment will create a new world of possibilities and release more creativity and productivity.

Gotta go. Time for my stretch!

Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN
Chair of Nutrition Entrepreneurs 2016-2017