Most people take breaks during their workdays. Coffee breaks. Lunch breaks. Short chats with coworkers. Maybe late afternoon walks around the building.
But are they taking the best type of breaks? Breaks that boost energy, concentration and motivation?
Two Baylor University researchers have published a new empirical study – “Give Me a Better Break: Choosing Workday Break Activities to Maximize Resource Recovery” – in the Journal of Applied Psychology.
The research provides a greater understanding of workday breaks and offers suggestions on when, where and how to plan the most beneficial daily escapes from the J-O-B. The research also debunks some common break-time myths.
Dr Emily Hunter and Dr Cindy Wu, associate professors of management in Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business, surveyed 95 employees (ages 22-67) over a five-day workweek, and each person was asked to document each break they took during that time.
Breaks were defined as “any period of time, formal or informal, during the workday in which work-relevant tasks are not required or expected, including but not limited to a break for lunch, coffee, personal email or socializing with coworkers, not including bathroom breaks.”
Hunter and Wu chronicled and analyzed a total of 959 break surveys – an average of two breaks per person per day. They say the results of the study benefit both managers and employees.
Key findings of the study include:
The most beneficial time to take a workday break is mid-morning. Hunter and Wu found that rather than the typical culture of working hard all morning only to take a lunch-hour or mid-afternoon break, a respite earlier in the workday replenishes more resources – energy, concentration and motivation.
“We found that when more hours had elapsed since the beginning of the work shift, fewer resources and more symptoms of poor health were reported after a break,” the study says.
“Therefore, breaks later in the day seem to be less effective.”
“Better breaks” incorporate activities that employees prefer.
A common belief exists that doing things that are non-work-related are more beneficial, Hunter explained. Based on the study, there was no evidence to prove that non-work-related activities were more beneficial.
Simply put, preferred break activities are things you choose to do and things you like to do. These could also include work-related tasks.
“Finding something on your break that you prefer to do – something that’s not given to you or assigned to you – are the kinds of activities that are going to make your breaks much more restful, provide better recovery and help you come back to work stronger,” Hunter said.
People who take “better breaks” experience better health and increased job satisfaction.
