5-Minute Work Breaks Cuts Morning Fatigue, Boosts Productivity, Says Study
The researchers looked at two studies that explored microbreaks that used to be conducted before COVID-19 wreaked havoc on our lives.
Work from home has made our already busy lives a whole lot busier with us dealing with home chores along with the stressful work.
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However, a new study by researchers from North Carolina State University, the National University of Singapore and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, taking short breaks in between stressful day can help you stay more productive.
The researchers looked at two studies that explored microbreaks that used to be conducted before COVID-19 wreaked havoc on our lives.
Work from home productivity boosting tips
The first one was a study that involved around 100 US workers who were asked to fill two questionnaires every day for 10 days -- one in the morning and one as their day ended. The questionnaire looked at sleep quality, fatigue level, work engagement and how their workday was.
The second study was somewhat similar to this. Here, 222 employees were given three surveys (morning, afternoon during lunch and evening while leaving) to answer for five consecutive days.
The study saw that workers when arrived at work tired, they ended up taking more microbreaks, at regular intervals. Researchers discovered that these small breaks helped in balancing their energy levels that helped workers feel optimistic about their work.
Sophia Cho, a psychology professor at North Carolina State University explains, ¡°Basically, microbreaks help you manage your energy resources over the course of the day¡ªand that's particularly beneficial on days when you're tired.¡±
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Researchers also discovered that the employees were more driven to take these microbreaks if they felt that their employer was more concerned about the employees well being.
Cho added, ¡°'When people think their employer cares about their health, they feel more empowered to freely make decisions about when to take microbreaks and what type of microbreaks to take. It is in a company's best interest to give employees autonomy in terms of taking microbreaks when they are needed. It helps employees effectively manage their energy and engage in their work throughout the day.¡±
