Given that we spend more than one-third of our days working, it’s no wonder we may end up feeling stressed, burnt out, and exhausted. Science has a solution: Get up and take a break. Just make sure it’s the right kind of break—the type that leaves you feeling energized and focused. Researchers from Baylor University explain exactly what you should do when you need to “take five.”
Researchers surveyed 95 employees between the ages of 22 and 67 over the course of a five-day work week, and asked them to record the breaks they took during the day. Each person averaged two breaks per day, and from the 959 breaks recorded, scientists were able to figure out several key factors that make a successful workday break.
1. The best time to take five is midmorning. Researchers discovered that when more time had elapsed since the beginning of the work shift, fewer resources and more symptoms of poor health were reported after a break. The best breaks involved activities that employees enjoyed even if the tasks were related to work. (The only requirement was that the employee enjoyed the task).
2. Short, frequent breaks are more beneficial. While the study was unable to pinpoint an exact length of time for a better workday break (15 minutes, 30 minutes, etc.), the research found that more short breaks were associated with higher resources.
3. Successful work breaks resulted in better health and higher job satisfaction. “Successful” is defined as earlier in the day, and by doing something enjoyable. Scientists saw those people had fewer symptoms of headache, eyestrain, or lower back pain following the break. There was also a decrease in burnout.
