When you have a lot of work to do and when you are working on a complex problem, you feel that you do not have the time to take breaks at work or you convince yourself you should not take breaks and continue the work. You won’t stop and make efforts to complete the task as fast as you can. 

However, studies and research have found that taking a break can be more beneficial for both the employee and the organization. Taking lunch breaks, and short breaks has a positive relationship with well-being and productivity. 

These days employees are hurrying to complete tasks without taking breaks and some of them are even skipping lunch breaks. But this is not the way it works. This article will demonstrate a few importance of taking breaks at work. 

“Rest is not idleness; it’s a crucial ingredient for peak performance.“

What are the importance of taking breaks?

Research has found significant advantages of taking a short break during the work time. Timely breaks help to increase the performance and productivity of employees. 

i. Productivity Enhancements

Taking timely breaks will help you refresh your mind and improve your focus which leads to increased productivity. If you work continuously without taking breaks then it can lead to higher stress levels and fatigue. Similarly, this will also diminish your working ability and you won’t be able to perform the task effectively.

ii. Improve Creativity

A short period of relaxation will stimulate creative thinking. Taking breaks leads to new ideas and insights. You can gain new perspectives and approaches that you might not while deeply focusing on your work. 

iii. Reduces Stress and Anxiety 

Breaks will help you to lower and reduce stress levels and provide you more relaxed mental state. Short breaks will lower your stress hormones and recharge you to work more efficiently. 

iv. Improves Mental Health

Continuous work may cause several mental health issues like anxiety and depression.  whereas taking a microbreak will reduce these mental health issues. Taking breaks is like clearing your mind and regaining a sense of control over your workload. 

v. Supports in Taking Better Decision

Timely breaks contribute to approaching problems with a fresh and creative perspective which will directly lead to better decision-making and more effective problem-solving. 

vi. Promotes Work-Life Balance

If you encourage breaks then it will help you achieve a healthy work-life balance. This will benefit both employees and employers and help to achieve the organization’s goal. 

Ways of encouraging coworkers or subordinates to take breaks:

There are several ways to encourage your coworkers or subordinates to take a break. Here are a few approaches that you can use.

i. Lead by examples

Leaders and managers may take the initiative of taking breaks and demonstrate how it benefits productivity. If they prioritize taking breaks, it sets a positive example for the entire team.

ii. Implement the policy of taking breaks

Firstly, the leaders must understand the importance and benefits of taking breaks. Then, they can implement the policies of taking timely breaks to foster a better workplace and productive environment.

iii. Create a supportive environment

Make the working environment supportive so that the workers or employees can share their workloads, stress, or other issues troubling them. Make them easy to share their feelings and to ask for breaks or other resources. 

Conclusion

Hence, to foster a fresh environment and enhance productivity taking timely breaks is very important. This not only helps the organization achieve its goals but also ensures the work-life balance of employees.