
Importance of taking a break

Short breaks are essential for your efficiency and that of your colleagues.
Focused attention
Focused attention is our brain’s ability to concentrate its attention on a specific goal for a certain period of time. Estimates of how long our “focused attention” (Selective sustained attention or focused attention) lasts range from 10 to 20 minutes. However, much scientific evidence is not available. This is partly due to major inter- and intra-personal differences stemming from:
- Personal factors: How rested am I? How strongly am I interested by the subject? Subjective experiences, emotions
- Environmental factors: noise, GSM, poorly set-up meeting, the room itself. If a presentation is set in a museum with beautiful artworks then you will be more distracted. If you are working in an office overlooking the beach, you will be more distracted in summer than in winter.
- The applied or to be processed materiel Boring tasks make it easier to lose focus, just like a subject that doesn’t interest or need you. Presentation style is also important: stereotypical, overloaded slides are examples of this, as is an unstructured or simplified presentation
- The fact that a person’s focused attention can restart again and independently, making observation of attention loss difficult to observe.
Regular breaks are essential
What is certain is that everyone should stop for a moment every 20 minutes. However, the content of such a break is not always the same and depends on the context.
ROUTINE JOBS
Someone with a routine job would do well to stop for a moment, stretch or walk around the office and look as far as they can for at least half a minute (gaze at infinity).
COMPLEX, CHALLENGING WORK
For complex, challenging work, a short break of a few minutes is ideal to continue working with greater concentration. The condition is that you do not take up another “task” in between or get distracted by a new problem. Again, some movement together and gaze at infinity is recommended. “Stretch, stretch, peer”
MEETINGS
Short breaks are also more than recommended during meetings.
- They offer a solution to the limited duration of our focused attention
- Regular, short breaks allow participants to reflect (during the breaks), consolidate and prepare targeted questions.
- Often, participants hold back from asking a question that is important only to his/her department. But with (obligatory) breaks every 20 minutes, chances are you will speak to that person and learn from them or even create new ideas and projects.
TRAININGS FOR ADULTS
In adult training, rest breaks are even more important. Everyone learns from what fascinates them or what is important to them. This varies from person to person. Frequent, closely spaced breaks are essential. It allows all participants to ask and discuss those things that are relevant to them.
“ In adult training, frequent, closely spaced breaks are essential.
What about a desk job?
“When I’m on a roll, I especially shouldn’t be interrupted” is obviously true. But you can feel free to take a break without being disturbed. Just stand up, look into the distance for a minute and get back to work. Concentration certainly does not diminish and your back and eyes will thank you.
Such a break doesn’t need to last 10 minutes. A minute or two is more than enough.
Application
In summary, regular breaks increase the efficiency of all employees and participants and are therefore crucial. We apply them consistently in our day-to-day operations as well as in all adult training courses we organize.
Want to know more?