Power of a Break during Deep Work

We are all trying to get to the bottom of this one- how do we do less work but more quality work all the while increasing productivity? Basically as the old saying goes, work smart not hard? Don’t try to be 100% productive all the time because that leads to burn-out and lack of energy.

Take a Break. There I said it. Research shoes purposeful breaks (thought out and well timed) from 5 to 60 minutes can help refresh your mental energy to get to the task at hand with even more energy. This can be whether you are sitting at your desk typing away or at work doing a mentally/physically demanding task that is draining.

The research behind this shows purposeful breaks don’t just let you relax but can help boost productivity while reducing stress, blood flow, oxygenation of blood vessels, and helping consolidate memory!

These are some short breaks to try on yourself-and NO getting on your phone to look through the repeated stimuli on Instagram or Twitter does not count.

Here are some healthy ways to take your next break

🌿 Get into nature if you can & take a walk

🌿 Meditate

🌿 Take a shower (a cold shower even better to boost circulation)

🌿 Cook something healthy or make a snack. An apple, nuts, or Greek yogurt are wonderful in my opinion.

🌿Organize your surroundings

🌿 Movement- get some exercise in through the way that feels good- pilates, running, yoga, lifting etc.

🌿 Make a call or have a conversation in person to a loved one. Connecting with others can help relieve your stress.

🌿 Deep breathing exercises

***Do not….check social media or respond to emails. This will often stimulate you into the headspace of whatever you were working on earlier.