No matter how busy you are. You always have time to take a break and refresh (and de-stress). There is a tendency to not take breaks when you get busy. You convince yourself that there just is not time to eat lunch or step outside for a breath of fresh air. This is usually not actually true. Unless you are in the middle of a very tight deadline or a genuine crisis you can always find time to spare. Not only that taking a break usually also means that you are more productive as you are re-energised and ready to tackle whatever is on your desk.
Here are some suggestions for taking a break:
- Do some desk stretches or stand up at your desk.
- Walk a lap or two of the building. Take a friend, have a chat, clear your head.
- Go on a coffee (or doughnut) run for the team.
- Go for a walk while taking a call (or walk around the office in an unused meeting room while taking a call).
- Catch up on the news or other articles that you have saved for reading later.
- Write something.
- Read a book.
- See if a colleague needs a break, too, and go grab a coffee or have a walking.
- Send a thank you note.
- Write a LinkedIn Message to one of your contacts.
- Clean your desk.
- Organise and Refile/Rename your files.
If you are bad at taking regular breaks – schedule them in! Put them in your calendar. If you are particularly busy at home as well you may wish to set aside some time for breaks in your home life as well.