Take a Break for Greater Productivity And Improved Resutls
Want to increase your productivity in less time?
Then take breaks.
Why Taking Breaks Increases Productivity
It seems counterproductive, but stopping your work several times a day will enable you to think more clearly and get more accomplished in less time, thus your productivity increases!
When we have a lot of work to do, our natural inclination is to tie ourselves to our chair and dig in, barely coming up for air. And why not? The best way to get it finished is to go at it and not stop until we can cross that item off our to-do list, right?
No, actually. It turns out that the best way to increase our productivity is to take breaks. Our ability to concentrate wanes after a while and the only way to recharge it is to give it a rest.
We all know how it feels when our mental muscle reaches a state of fatigue—that point when our mind feels like it has turned into sludge. New ideas stop coming, and tasks that should be accomplished quickly and easily suddenly seem difficult and insurmountable. It is a frustrating feeling to realize that we have been at a task for hours but have very little to show for it.
[color-box]Learn how the language your use everyday affects your results with this free report[/color-box]
The solution is to disengage for a few minutes and focus on something else—or nothing at all. By removing yourself from the task, your mind and creativity can recharge. The best breaks involve movement; if you can get up, walk around and exert yourself physically for a few minutes, you will gain even more benefit.
According to Professor John P. Trougakos, a professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough and the Rotman School of Management, you should take a break before you reach rock bottom mentally. It is a little harder to recover from total mental exhaustion. Stopping while you still have a little charge will make the re-charging quicker and more potent.
However Professor Trougakos also points out that if you are on a roll and making great headway, you do not have to force yourself to stop. The time to take a break is when that productivity starts to decrease.
The secret is discerning when you need a rest. Some days you might be able to work productively for two hours solid. But other days, you might need to take a break after only thirty minutes. Listen to your body and respond accordingly.
Just be careful not to take so many breaks that you spend most of your work time trying to reorient yourself in your project. Don’t go overboard with the breaks; use them wisely.
