Reading time: 3 min.
You know the drill; it's half past eight in the morning, and employees stroll into the office. They quickly grab a cup of coffee and dive behind their screens to answer the first emails. The day is packed with meetings, and lunch is once again spent in front of the screen.
Time for a break? There usually isn't one…
Fair enough, everyone has busy days, but when these start piling up, the workplace fills with tension and the team loses its motivation. This is quite likely, since as many as 1 in 4 Belgians say they experience stress at work every day.
What's the solution?
Well, a big part of the solution is within easy reach. Did you know that short, quality breaks throughout the day can make a huge difference? In Sweden, this has long been common knowledge. The "fika", the shared break moment during the day, is sacred there. In this blog, we'll show you why (proper) breaks at work matter so much.
Why breaks matter
Taking a break isn't just the best part of the day, it also boosts productivity and lowers stress levels. These are well-known facts, but what other benefits do short, quality breaks bring?
Besides asking 'Why is taking breaks good?', we can of course also ask 'Why is NOT taking breaks bad?'. When you skip breaks, it can lead to a loss of focus, with a sharp drop in productivity as a result.
When you encourage employees to take regular breaks, you'll quickly notice the positive effects. In general, short breaks improve decision-making and sharpen thinking. As a result, creativity gets a boost too!
In short, taking breaks helps you reach your goals more efficiently.
Of course, we can distinguish between different types of breaks. A meditation exercise won't have the same effect as eating a nutritious snack. So here's a list of benefits that certain break activities can bring for you and your employees.
A relaxing break
When someone takes a relaxing break, like reading an article or taking a walk around the office, it affects their state of mind. The employee returns from their break mentally refreshed and feels noticeably more energised. Plus, the team ends up in a more positive mood and becomes less sensitive to outside distractions.
Stepping away from the physical workspace for a bit also raises performance levels on tasks, since the workspace is often associated with working and being productive.
Learning something new
Even if it's just a daily Duolingo session, learning something new makes people feel less fatigued. It might sound contradictory, but everyone knows that productivity boost you get right after learning something! So encourage your team to find something that interests them, so they enjoy spending their break time on it! Preferably not from behind a computer, although that's fine now and then too.
Social activities
A day without coffee chats is a day not worked. It turns out these short social moments around the coffee machine are actually great for productivity! Your team will be in a better mood, and overall wellbeing gets a real lift. Employees also feel more connected to each other, which leads to a better team atmosphere, which in turn leads to better results.
A nutritious lunch or snack
Food is fuel for the body! We often see offices where less nutritious biscuits and soft drinks dominate the workplace. They might taste good… but they have a strongly negative impact on both performance and employee wellbeing. So encourage your employees to enjoy a nutritious lunch and snacks throughout the day. This contributes to a healthier work environment and keeps metabolism going, which boosts productivity and helps avoid that familiar afternoon slump.
