Mid-morning break for health & productivity
A new study indicates taking mid-morning break in order to replenish resources – energy, concentration and motivation.
The study also suggests that frequent short breaks are better than longer breaks and people who take ‘better breaks’ experience good health and enhanced job satisfaction.
Breaks later in the day are less effective, the study said, pointing that when more hours had passed since the start of the work shift, fewer resources and more symptoms of poor health were reported.
95 employees, aged 26 to 67, were asked by Emily Hunter and Cindy Wu, associate professors in a university in the US, to document breaks that they took over a 5-day work week. Breaks were defined as ‘any period of time – formal or informal – during the workday where work-relevant tasks are not required or expected. This includes a break for lunch, coffee, personal emailing or socializing with coworkers. Bio-breaks were not included’.
Hunter further said, ‘Finding something on your break that you prefer to do – something that is not given to you or assigned to you – are the kind of activities that are going to make your activities that are going to make your breaks much more restful, provide better recovery and help you come back to work stronger’.
Employee surveys have showed that recovery of resources – energy, concentration and motivation – following a better break (earlier in the day, doing things they preferred) led workers to experience less somatic symptoms like headache, eyestrain and lower backache.
Written by: Dr. Ajay Sati.
