ALT-1 Why Taking Regular Breaks is so Important
It is easy to understand why some people fail to take any breaks when they are at work. When they have urgent deadlines to meet and their boss is breathing down their neck they become focused on completing whatever tasks need doing as quickly as possible. This isn't necessarily a positive thing, though, as they might end up making silly mistakes that need to be corrected later on. Indeed, by not taking any breaks at all they could end up being less productive than if they had taken half an hour or so away from their computer and got something to eat instead.It is therefore important to make time in your schedule for a break or two during the day. You might have various deadlines to meet, but if you organise your time in an effective way you should have no problems. What you don't want to do is run yourself into the ground so that you lose all focus and cannot complete the work that needs to be done. If you don't look after your health and well-being you could find yourself falling ill so that you fail to complete all your tasks on time, anyway. To avoid this situation you need to recognise when you need to take a break.If you make time in your day for a break, you will be able to get something to eat, talk with colleagues and maybe get some exercise, all of which are essential for keeping you mentally alert and in good physical condition. If you don't eat anything during the day, your energy levels will fall and you won't be able to concentrate on your work. You may decide to grab something to eat quickly, but you won't be able to enjoy what you're eating if you're sat at your desk and trying to work at the same time.Indeed, it can do you good to get out of the office and get some fresh air or take some time to get to know your colleagues and talk about subjects other than work. You may decide to take a walk to the local coffee shop so that you can take some exercise, have a conversation and get something to eat and drink. Perhaps you feel that you're wasting your time and that you would be more productive if you were back at the office, but by having a break you will approach your work with more enthusiasm when you get back to it.When you are focusing all your energy on completing a specific task you can lose sight of what it is you are trying to achieve. You may struggle to come up with new ideas or implement the ideas you already have, whilst you could become overwhelmed by lethargy having spent a long time in front of your computer screen. It is evident that the quality of your work is likely to suffer as a result and so taking a break may not be such a bad idea. At the end of the day, it isn't just how much work you are able to produce, but also the standard of the work you produce. Deciding not to take any breaks could end up having a negative effect on both.
