The Power of Micro-Breaks

Boosting Productivity With Short Breaks

Hello Everyone!

I’ve written at length about my experience with burnout and handling stress at work.

I guess I’ve been guilty of falling into the temptation of thinking that getting things done ASAP is the way to ensure productivity. In tandem with that, I used to think that the constant hustle was something to strive for.

It ultimately got to a point when fatigue set in and my work suffered as a result. This has been the case recently as well when I have had to juggle taking care of a newborn with work.

Micro-breaks have been a powerful tool in combating fatigue for me and, in this piece, I’ll go over how they have worked for me.

What Are Micro-Breaks?

Micro-breaks are pauses that, for me at least, last between 5 and 15 minutes. These breaks are moments for me to step away, avoid screens and reset.

Such short pauses might seem insignificant but, in my experience, they reduce stress and help with recalibration, especially when I have a lot of stuff to tick off.

A micro-break, for me, could be something as basic and simple as closing my eyes for a bit to breathe deeply or taking a walk to refill my water bottle. Whatever they may be, the idea is to pause and get my mind off work for a bit.

These brief moments of pause have the effect of a quick recharge and help me regain a sense of clarity when I have too much to deal with.

How Micro-Breaks Changed My Workday

When I started taking micro-breaks, I was a bit skeptical to say the least. Soon, however, I realised that I could concentrate for longer phases at a stretch and complete tasks faster.

During an intense round of funding for the company I was employed at, for instance, those short pauses helped me keep my focus and avoid getting burnt out by mid-day.

Micro-breaks also helped with my mood. While the fundraising process was on-going we often had heated exchanges in meetings that used to be scheduled late in the evening for us in Europe in order to align with the US time-zone.

Taking a few minutes to step outside after such intense exchange helped a lot because, while it may seem like a small act of self-reflection, it helped me process my emotions and get to work without getting frustrated.

Incorporating Micro-Breaks

I guess one way to start off is to capitalise on natural pauses. If you’re waiting for your coffee to brew for instance, you can take a few minutes to stretch and take a deep breath. You can have calendar alerts set up as reminders to step away regularly. Even getting up to take a short 5-10 minute walk along the block can make a huge difference.

The main take away is that micro-breaks aren’t about slacking off at all. The idea is to work smarter by taking such pauses. Micro-breaks allow me to take on tasks with a renewed focus.

Whenever you feel drained, try taking a micro-break. Trust me—you’ll feel a lot more in control and a lot less overwhelmed.

AI Image, generated with Dall•E by me