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- Breaks: the most underrated productivity boosters, not stoppers.
Breaks: the most underrated productivity boosters, not stoppers.
When to take a break? For how long? Doing what?
Petrus Productivus
May 30, 2024
If you know the Heroic Productivity tagline, you'll know that we're all about working smart, not working hard. It's essential to understand that your ability to focus is limited and weakens over time.
By taking breaks, you allow your mind to recharge and remain at a high level of focus, similar to how a bodybuilder needs rest between sets. Research has found that participants who took short breaks were more focused and productive in their tasks.
Moreover, regular breaks can boost your productivity by aligning with your brain's natural rhythms, fostering creativity, enhancing learning efficiency, and promoting mental well-being.
Remember, cognitive stamina is not infinite, and it requires regular intervals of rest to maintain optimal performance, just like a mana bar in an RPG game that needs magic potions to restore it.
🗝Actionable tips
How Long?
Experiment with different techniques, as productivity is a personal journey. Try setting timers for short bursts on new projects, or use the Flowtime technique for high-focus work. However, remember to block off time for Deep Play in your daily schedule. Here are some options:
Pomodoro Technique: Work for 25 minutes, then take a 3 to 5-minute break. After four blocks, enjoy a 15 to 30-minute break.
Ultradian Rhythm: Capitalize on your natural energy cycles by working in 90-minute intervals with 20-30 minute breaks.
Flowtime Technique: Identify your "flow state" and block off large chunks of uninterrupted time for focused work. Take longer breaks as needed, with more flexibility.
20-20-30 Technique: Work for two 20-minute sessions with a 5-minute break in between, followed by a 30-minute break. Great for those needing more frequent breaks
What activities during the break?
Avoid work-related tasks or social media as they can lead to emotional exhaustion. Choose rejuvenating activities, such as light physical exercise, walking, meditating, social interaction, nature exposure, or even creative tasks.
When to Take a Break?
Watch for these signals:
-Lack of Ideas
-Mental Fatigue
-Frustration
-Increased Distraction
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After seeing businesses across different industries make the same mistakes over and over, he created a quick guide to the top 7 mistakes people make on their websites and how to fix them.
I’ve found it pretty helpful for my website, especially the Call To Action part.
Let me know, after reading this, what break interval works best for you?
Also, do you have any specific productivity-related challenges? Hit reply and tell me.
Alright, time for a break!