5 Reasons It’s Important to Take Breaks

June 6, 2016 6:00 am Published by

In our blog post 4 Tips for Court Reporters Working from Home, we touched on how it’s important to take breaks because it increases productivity. That’s not the only reason. Taking time away from work helps the mind, body, and spirit reset and get ready to complete a project or inspire you to start a new one. Some days it’s more challenging to take breaks but here’s why it’s a good idea.

  1. Burnout prevention – It’s great to be busy but working too many hours causes fatigue and you may even grow to dislike your work. Left uninspired, you may walk away exhausted from a job you used to love. We don’t want burnout to happen! We encourage you to use the 50/10 rule of working for 50 minutes and taking 10 minutes off. Use a timer and let us know how you feel with a few breaks in your day!
  2. Daydreaming stimulates the brain – On those days when you’re focused for long periods of time it might feel like stopping for anything – even water and a snack – can get you off track but the opposite is true. Your brain needs a rest and will come back more focused even if you stop for just a few minutes. Step away from the computer and phone, go outside, take deep breaths, and grab a snack. You’re sure to feel renewed!
  3. Time to eat – A dehydrated and hungry body doesn’t perform as well as one that’s receiving proper nutrition. That includes your brain. Avocado, almonds, fish, and whole grains make for good brain food. Take time to drink water and eat protein filled snacks throughout the day along with well-balanced meals to keep you performing optimally.
  4. Exercise your body – You sit for hours using your brain but it’s important to exercise your body too. A good workout not only builds the physical body, it’s mindful action that uses a different part of your brain than you use when you’re court reporting. At least 30 minutes per day of exercise on most days will clear your mind and help you sleep better.
  5. Get sleep – We can all push ourselves every once in awhile to finish a project late at night but don’t make it a habit. For as much as it might feel like you’re shutting down when you sleep, your body is doing work to heal and renew itself. 6-8 hours per night is optimal.

 

The next time you think of pulling an all-nighter, think of how much better you feel after a good meal, exercise, and a good night of sleep. You will return renewed and less likely to suffer burnout from overworking. Here’s to a renewed you!

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This post was written by anne

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