Pushing employees as hard as they can go might be necessary at times, but that kind of constant pressure begins to take a toll very quickly. When employees are pushed to the brink day in and day out, morale starts to sink and agitation begins to replace it. As an employer, you certainly have a duty to make sure your employees are completing their assigned tasks in a timely and adequate manner. It’s also your duty, though, to ensure your employees are healthy and content. To this end, you should encourage your employees to take a mental break every now and then.
Read on as we discuss the benefits both you and your employees will reap from added mental breaks as well as ideas for break time activities.
Increased productivity
The urge to do as much work as we can in as little time as possible has arguably warped our sense of productivity. Speed and efficiency are the ultimate tools in the workplace, while the actual quality of the work and the methods of producing the work are often overlooked. While it might appear to make sense that employees who work continuously would be more productive, employees who take small, frequent breaks from their tasks often demonstrate higher levels of productivity.
In this case, productivity means more focus and engagement with the tasks at hand and producing work that is higher in quality.
More motivation
Motivation ties in strongly with productivity. A motivated employee isn’t necessarily someone who works all day, every day, with little to no breaks. Rather, a motivated employee is one that actively thinks about his or her work and producing the best product he or she can create.
Encouraging employees to take a mental break serves to increase their motivation in numerous ways. For one, it shows them that you care for their well-being, and the more encouraging the employer is, the more motivated the employees are. Additionally, it allows employees a few moments of time to gather their thoughts and return more focused on their jobs.
Fewer distractions
The more your mind and body are in need of a break, the more distracted you’ll become. When you’ve been working constantly for hours on end, it’s common to find yourself staring off into the distance, daydreaming, or inadvertently looking at memes on your phone that have nothing to do with the work you should be doing. Taking short breaks throughout your workday provides your body and mind with the brief distraction you need to return to your work with renewed vigor.
Improved perspective
Have you ever been working on a crossword puzzle or similar brain game for a long time and found yourself stumped on one of the answers, only to return to it a little while later and realize you know the answer? Things like this happen to most of us all the time, even when it’s something as simple as recalling an actor’s name hours after you were trying to think of it when discussing his or her new movie with a friend.
This is because, knowingly or not, you gave your brain a chance to step outside the frame and return later with a renewed perspective. An employee’s perspective is one of the most important factors affecting his or her work. Therefore, providing employees with time to step away from a project and return a little while later allows them to approach their tasks with a renewed perspective. They’ll be able to make better decisions and produce content that may not have been mentally accessible to them beforehand.
Boost in creativity
Perspective is also vital to creativity, and sometimes a quick mental break is all your employees need to get those creative juices flowing. When employees just trudge along, fulfilling mundane tasks and producing results that don’t express their true potential, it has a negative impact on everyone involved. Providing your employees with breaks to boost their creativity lets them produce work that is up to their own personal standards, allowing them to take pride in a job well done.
Reduced boredom
Speaking of mundane tasks, let’s face it: We all have to perform duties in the workplace that are less than thrilling. And while these tasks are necessary, working on them continuously without appropriate breaks does take a toll on one’s psyche. Reduce the boredom and negativity associated with these types of activities by allowing your employees to step away for brief periods throughout the day.
An opportunity to refuel
A hungry employee is not a happy employee, and a hungry, unhappy employee makes for subpar work. Make sure your employees are taking the time to eat and to drink throughout the day to ensure everyone stays happy and healthy. It also helps to keep everyone’s mood high and to avoid the hungry jitters and the decaffeinated stupor we’re all far too familiar with.
A chance to gain advice
Many employees feel like they need to handle all of their tasks on their own, rather than seeking help from a coworker or manager. Unfortunately, this often leads to poor decision-making and wasted time. When you encourage employees to take a mental break, however, they get the chance to fraternize with their coworkers and potentially ask for advice when it’s needed. Letting employees know your door is open for council, as well, gives them the chance to come to you with questions and concerns they may not feel they can express if breaks are considered inappropriate.
It’s healthy!
Finally, encouraging your employees to take breaks works wonders on their health. It may not feel noticeably unhealthy, but sitting in a chair behind a computer screen all day does take a negative toll on our health. Brief breaks throughout the day are healthy for various reasons.
First, getting up from behind a desk for a moment now and then increases blood circulation. This improves muscle function and keeps sluggishness at bay. Second, taking a few moments to look away from your computer screen greatly reduces eye strain that can lead to tired eye muscles and headaches.
Third, and most importantly, mental breaks help decrease stress levels. While you and your employees may be under pressure to meet a deadline or are just swamped with work, overworking everyone is not the solution. Stress leads to burnout, and burnout leads to a decrease in product quality and, ultimately, employee turnover. Avoid hostile work environments and keep your employees healthy by encouraging frequent mental breaks throughout the day.
Work break ideas
Now that you hopefully have a better understanding of the benefits of breaks at work, here are a few suggestions for things to do when you encourage employees to take a mental break.
Take a nice walk
If the weather’s nice and you have time to get outside for a bit, try taking a walk around your building. If you have the opportunity for a longer break, you could even go for a jog to wake up and get the blood pumping.
Catch a few Zzz’s
Power naps that are less than 15-20 minutes can be just the trick to quick rest breaks at work. You can then go back to the work grind refreshed and revitalized. Even if you can’t manage to fall asleep, finding a peaceful place where you can lay down and rest your eyes gives you the quiet alone time you need to get through the day.
Listen to music
If you can’t find a spot that’s quiet enough to sleep, plug those headphones in and escape for a while. Whether you listen to something serene, your favorite rock song, or even a funny or informative podcast, listening to something you enjoy allows you to escape and recoup.
Chat with your colleagues
Coworkers who only engage in stressful work-related activities together and who don’t get a chance to joke around or get to know one another often have more hostile work environments. Taking a break to go chat with your colleagues at the watercooler or in the breakroom can make for a more friendly and collaborative work environment.
Meditate and gather your thoughts
Meditation comes with a host of benefits, particularly in the workplace. Lower your stress levels and even your blood pressure by taking time out of your day to meditate. Try sitting quietly and clearing your mind, stretching your limbs, or even just talking to yourself in your head. You’d be surprised how much good a few moments alone to yourself can accomplish.
To the break room!
Allowing your employees to take necessary time out of their days to relax, refuel, and gather their thoughts makes for a more collaborative and positive working environment. You can even incorporate some of these breaks into your team building activities. Take the time to get to know your employees and their needs a little better. Then come up with innovative ways of providing them with what they need to thrive in the workplace.
When you encourage employees to take a mental break from the work desk, you’ll start seeing results sooner than you’d expect.