It may come as a surprise, but stopping work to take microbreaks could be more productive than you might think. So when you’re feeling fat at work, after a bad night or a busy week, don’t think twice about brewing quick coffee on your own or with a coworker if you’re in the office. In fact, it could be beneficial to your employer – scientists say so!
So it was hard for you to get out of bed, and you can’t just focus on those important reports, your morning meeting or any other activity that you’re going to be doing at work. It happens – even to the best of our ability! Employees often tend to persevere, plowing forward anyway, without managing to be productive. However, a new paper – a break that lasts about five minutes, for example – could help people kick back and find the energy they need to get on with their work and stay productive.
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This new paper is based on two studies examining issues related to microbreaks in the working day. The aim was to gain a better understanding of how employees motivate or maintain their energy levels to maintain productivity, even when they start the already tired day. . The first study surveyed 98 employees in the U.S. who filled out two surveys per day for 10 consecutive workdays, and the second study included 222 employees in South Korea, who completed three inspections per day for five working days.
How microbreaks could keep productivity on track
The decision was very encouraging for staff. The scientists explain that when people arrived at work already tired, they tended to take microbreaks more often. And that’s not a bad thing, it seems, because taking microbreaks helped them maintain their energy levels throughout the day, helping them to meet job demands and engaging in better work.
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“Microbreak is short, by definition, but a five-minute break can be yellow if you take it at the right time. Our study shows that it’s good for a company to provide self-experience microbreaks when they are needed – it helps employees effectively manage their energy and engage in their work during the day, ”explained Sophia Cho from North Carolina State University.
When scientists talk about microbreaks, these short moments could include drinking coffee with a coworker, chatting with someone, stretching or sneezing. work on a crossword puzzle.
Note that the studies also found that people were more likely to take microbreaks if they felt their employer cared about the health and wellbeing of their employees – a win-win strategy. the researchers, benefiting both the employer and the employee.
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