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Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio.
Good morning.
This is Laura.
Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.
Today's tip is to take a better break today.
Everyone takes breaks during the workday, whether they think they do or not.
So if you are going to take a break at some point today, Why not make it as rejuvenating and wonderful as possible?
In some lines of work, breaks are formally built in.
When I worked in a fast food restaurant many years ago, an eight-hour shift was scheduled, over nine hours, because the working hours came with two 15-minute breaks and one 30-minute break.
My coworkers and I all took our 15-minute breaks at set staggered times to make sure enough people were manning the kitchen and the registers.
I imagine many people listening to this podcast work in slightly different ways.
Breaks aren't so formally structured in your line of work.
You work for a while and then you do something different.
That isn't necessarily the core of your job.
Until you resume, work again.
When I have observed people and discussed their schedules, I've noticed that these breaks often start unintentionally.
Maybe you are working on a report and mean to ask your colleague about something you hope to include.
You pop over to your inbox to send a note.
Then, in your inbox, you see a headline about something designed to get your attention.
You click over to the article and read it and then read something else or see a sports score and have to go check that out.
And next thing you know, it can be 20 minutes or more before you resume work.
Now, that 20-minute break was longer than my restaurant's formally scheduled smoke breaks.
That's what we called them, whether you smoked or not, which I didn't.
But many people taking that headline-reading break wouldn't even note it as a break.
It wasn't particularly rejuvenating or relaxing.
And since it wasn't scheduled ahead and intentionally taken... many people might not even notice it.
Then, they might claim that they don't take breaks.
But everyone takes breaks.
Some are intentional, and some are not.
Some are relaxing, and some are not.
I would argue that, since it is impossible to spend an entire workday entirely focused on work, we are all best off taking breaks intentionally so they can be truly rejuvenating and not take more time than we intend to give them.
So as you think about your day today, aim to take a much better break.
You might look over your schedule and identify when you'd be most likely to do something that is not your core job.
Lots of people feel unfocused and fatigued in mid-afternoon.
So if you're not sure, that's probably a good time to aim for.
Then think about what you could do in 10 to 15 minutes that would boost your energy levels.
Could you go for a quick walk?
Even if you can't leave your building, you might be able to go up and down the stairs.
You could have a quick cup of tea with a colleague that you enjoy.
That's a much better way to socialize than reading comments on online articles.
You could read a book or a magazine for a few minutes.
If you think people will look askance at this intentional break, just go somewhere that they can't see you.
Outside.
Or your car.
Or a faraway conference room.
Or something like that.
Of course, if you work from home, you've got a lot more options.
You could do any sort of hobby, like practicing a musical instrument gardening, doing some artwork or maybe a more complicated workout.
You could take your dog on a real walk and get both of you some exercise and fresh air.
Picture what you would like to do today and then work out the logistics.
If you plan to read and you work in an office, make sure you bring your book.
If you'd like to go for a walk, make sure you wear or bring shoes that would make that possible.
If you plan to practice your flute in your home office, put your flute and your music in there, so you don't waste time looking for it when it's time to take a break.
Then, at break time, execute on the plan.
Now, you might need to be a little bit flexible.
Maybe your break happens a little earlier or maybe a little bit later than you planned.
Maybe a colleague's meeting runs long, so you walk alone rather than with a group.
Maybe you take two shorter breaks instead of one longer one, but I highly doubt that you can't make it work.
If you work in a job where breaks aren't scheduled but you think you work without ceasing, try observing your time sometime and your activities just for a day, and see if there is any time spent on stuff other than the core of your work.
My guess is that the answer is yes.
If so, you will be better off choosing those activities and acknowledging your break.
You'll feel more relaxed and like time is more within your control.
That little mindset shift can change everything.
In the meantime, this is Laura.
Thanks for listening.
And here's to making the most of our time.
Hey everybody, I'd love to hear from you.
You can send me your tips, your questions, or anything else.
Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at BeforeBreakfastPod.
That's B-E, the number four, then breakfast, P-O-D.
You can also shoot me an email at beforebreakfastpodcast at iheartmedia.com.
That before breakfast is spelled out with all the letters.
Thanks so much.
I look forward to staying in touch.
Before Breakfast is a production of iHeart Radio.
For more podcasts from iHeart Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
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