Do you always take your breaks during your working day?
Do you always use up your allocated amount of annual leave every year?
If not, why not?
You might think that by working away and not taking breaks you’re actually getting more done, but that’s actually far from the truth. By not taking breaks, you’re not allowing your mind and body to have the rest it needs and you’re going to find it impossible to concentrate.
What happens when you feel like you can’t concentrate and you begin to make mistakes as a result? You become stressed, that’s what.
Workplace stress is something we all need to start taking more seriously. Not only does it make your working day at your office desk more than a little miserable but for a business, it can be extremely costly. In the worst-case scenarios, stress can lead to serious and even fatal health conditions.
As you can see, stress isn’t something to take lightly.
Always taking your breaks means that you have the time to refocus and remember that not everything is about work! Yes, you’re at work for a set number of hours a day and you need to give it you all during those hours, but you also need to allow your mind a few minutes to readjust and settle too. Heading outside on your breaks is therefore a great idea, but if the weather isn’t playing ball, having somewhere within your building that is calm and relaxing is a great idea.
Breakout spaces are ideal for this. Decorating this space in a calm and comfortable way is ideal. Opt for colours such as blue, yellow, or green, and have a few plants here and there to bring in a little of Mother Nature’s healing magic. Make sure that the office furniture you have in these spaces is comfortable and supportive, such as office sofas and office booths, as just one idea.
If you don’t have the space for a full breakout area, make sure you have some kind of space, and incorporate the outdoors if you’re able to.
One of the main causes of stress in the workplace is feeling out of control. This can be because you can’t concentrate due to poor office design, because your workload is too much, you have deadlines which are too strict, you don’t have the training you need to complete a specific task, or it can simply be because you’re pushing yourself too hard and you need a break.
Listen to your body. If you’re constantly tired, if you’re making mistakes, if you can’t focus for too long, if you have a million and one jobs and you can’t make progress on any of them, and if you’re feeling achy from sitting at your office desk for too long, its time to take a break.
Employers must give you breaks during the day, however the number of breaks you’re allowed depends upon the number of hours you’re working, etc. Check out the policy regarding breaks in your workplace and remember to take whatever you’re entitled to. It also goes without saying that you should definitely take all of your annual leave entitlement every year - there are far too many fantastic places to see to remain stuck at your office chair without a need!