When you work from home, you always want to get as much work done and sometimes you end up pushing the limits. There are lots of people that work from home as a virtual receptionist, freelancer, or social media manager and they end up spending way too much time in front of the computer. It might not seem a problem at first, but this can lead to severe health problems if you’re not careful. That’s why you need to make sure you take breaks as often as you can.
Using the Pomodoro technique
This technique is very helpful because it helps you monitor how much time you work without taking a break. The idea here is that you set the timer for 20-30 minutes of continual work and then you can take a break. It doesn’t have to be a long break, but you need it to clear up your mind and ensure that everything is working the way you expect.
Why do we need to take breaks when we work?
One thing we need to realize here is that our mind starts to wander naturally as the energy levels are getting lower and lower. The idea here is that the human body starts to crave things like movement and not being stuck in a single place for too much time. It’s at that point when you end up losing attention and that can have a very bad impact on your productivity. Even if it doesn’t feel like it, taking a break makes a lot of sense and it encourages you to really push yourself and try out something new and more rewarding. It enhances your capabilities while still making it easier for you to assess the situation and adapt accordingly as you see fit.
What type of micro-breaks should you take?
As the name suggests, these are short breaks. That means they can be anything from taking a walk outside and clearing your mind, preparing a cup of coffee in the kitchen, watching a bit of TV (which makes sense when you work from home), or practicing some breathing exercises. Even meditation can help you here.
Ideally, you want to go with 5-minute breaks. Those are not that intrusive, and you still get to complete the tasks you want without feeling overwhelmed. It helps a lot, especially in the beginning when you start to work from home. The great thing about micro breaks is that you create your schedule, so it all comes down to adapting and adjusting your schedule in a proper manner. Once you do that, it will be well worth the effort and that’s what really matters the most here.
You should try to experiment with micro-breaks and see how much they can improve your productivity. You might think that taking breaks is not going to help you. That’s just the opposite, microbreaks will make the process easier for you and that’s what you want to go for.
