10 Ways to Take a Break at Work
Take a short break and restore your energy while you’re at work. Don’t wait until you get home. Do it now.
Short breaks:
- Go on an office “thank you tour.” Stop into offices or meetings and thank people for their service. Be specific, personal, and brief. Turn and walk away when your done.
- Take a short walk between meetings.
- Reflect before taking on the next task. Ask, “Am I proud of my attitude and behavior so far today?”
- Turn on some music.
- Treat yourself to a special drink. (Non-alcoholic of course)
- Exercise in your chair.
- Call your spouse, children, or significant other. Say something good.
- Doodle.
- Take your shoes off under your desk.
- Close your eyes and recall a joyful experience from your past.
Bonus: Pat yourself on the back like you would someone else. (Do this in private.)
I’m chilling out with my wife, son, daughter-in-law, and our youngest granddaughter. It’s time for a walk in the sand.
How do you restore your energy?
Absolutely the truth! I’ve found that 5 minutes to clear my mind of all things work-related energizes my attitude and concentration abilities. Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks Dennis,
Now if we can just remember to do it.
Cheers
Good ideas, Dan. Me? I’ll go practice the piano for an hour. Does wonders for clearing the gunk from my head.
Thanks bimuse,
Good one. My wife is a great pianist. It’s a great personal place for her to go. Frankly, it’s good for me to listen.
Best
Hi Dan,
Good on you for bringing up this topic. Rest is part of any fitness program. One might argue that rest, in the case of exercise, is when the magic happens. And in the case of thinking and innovating, it is often the same. 🙂
One of the more powerful things we can do to rest while working, is learn to breathe properly, and take breaks for special breathing exercises throughout the day. I usually teach my clients several different techniques, so that they can practice on breaks for a few minutes, and even during meetings to lower blood pressure and cortisol levels and and enhance focus.
Other than that, my favorites are practicing guitar; doing some focused writing; reading something extremely engaging or inspirational (I set a timer); or talking a walk.
Since my office is in my home, a coffee break with my wife when she is available is always a nice…
All the best,
Mark
Thanks Mark,
I find that walking is great place to FORGET to breathe. I walk and think with my head down. The act of lifting my head and opening my chest is refreshing…if I can just remember.
Enjoy
Great answer Mark, thanks!!!
I am in my head so much trying to get to no thoughts, hehe, I tend to forget the body bag my spirit resides in.
Breathing so important thank you so VERY much for the reminder.
SP back to breathing NOW!!!
Glad you found some value there, Scott! 🙂
Agree Dan refreshing yourself regular during the day – A. Makes you Human (as seen by your colleagues), B. Keeps you alive.
i often walk around in meetings as well as a way of staying active and alive.
and of course the one you forgot – read a blog from someone who inspires you.
Richard
Thanks Richard,
I enjoy the “standing meeting” idea, as well. Who made the rule that rule that we have to sit down in meetings. Glad you brought it up and thanks for the hint that Leadership Freak is helpful.
Cheers
Mine way of break? Coffee, holiday and food. travel twice a year for holiday. food on weekends.
And of course, I feel very relax when I blog.
Just my 2 cents. Thanks for sharing mate.
Reginald
Thanks Reginald,
Nothing like a cup of coffee! I just have to remember to sit back for a minute and enjoy the aroma and flavor.
Best
Writing, free form is a good mental rest for me. Else, I like modifying the “Thank-you tour” by taking a moment to find an inspirational quote and write it on a public whiteboard or ask my colleagues about specific life stuff they had shared with me, letting them know I care about them as people.
Thanks William,
Taking a moment to write feels like doing something for me. Just jot some thoughts down… love it.
Cheers
Never pat myself on the back, Gods job not mine.
Also to recharge since I understand I receive when I give, only, find somebody I can help.
Hey I did not create Gods directions, she did, I just do my best to follow them.
SP back to my present. And for. Giggles watch Curb Your Enthusiasm and Eastbound and Down regularly!!! Hehe
Thanks Scott,
Glad you shared your perspective.
Best
I am fortunate to work in a scenic area which is perfect for a 5-10 minute walk. I usually walk with my music which could be relaxing, upbeat or meditative…just depends on mood. It does wonders to get you ready for the next task.
Thanks Chris,
I think we forget how to find relaxing places that are nearby. Good call!
Cheers
Thanks Dan for reminding us of the frequently forgotten magic potion to enable us for high performance To deliver success professionally and personally. Very ironically I have experienced various times missing to practice than to advocate 🙂 usual practice tends to push the break to end of the day.
Thanks rajasekhary….,
Great warning! Don’t wait till the end of the day to take a break. How many times have I kept putting this off because there was something else to do. BUT, there’s always something else to do.
Best
Probably your most important one all the rest can stand on this.
;o)
God bless
Kymee
Thanks Kymee,
I take it from this that you mean if we burn out then we are done. But, we extend our service by re-energizing.
Cheers
“Thank you tour”…now THAT’S an awesome idea! Thanks so much, Dan. See…I’ve started today’s tour already!
Thanks hermosausaadmin,
Yes indeed! Keep up the great work. 🙂
Thankfully
I have found nothing gives me a better break than looking at a couple pictures of my 3-year-old grandson. Seeing his face always makes me smile and relax.
Thanks Scott,
A moment to appreciate! We have pictures of the kids and grandkids and I’m with you. It just feels good to look at them.
Cheers
I needed this today!
Dear Dan,
I agree with your suggestions of taking break at work. I will give my example. After lunch, I walk around my campus and then come to my cabin and start working in relaxing manner. Similarly, after dinner, I walk two round of my campus and sometimes go out and then based on priority I decide whether to work at office or at home.
Taking rest between works is powerful idea. However, there are works that demands presence. In that situation, one has to just move for some time showing one’s physical presence. For example in case of front line managers serving customers, where customers need service even during lunch time, it is important to find out way to relax.
Relax does not mean rest. It means breaking from monotony of work. And it can be done in many ways as suggested. One way that I found useful is that talking to your workplace colleagues and just knowing their well beings.
Just try to appreciate what they are doing. One can say like- you are really doing great work, Customers like your work and so do I.
One should also surprise by asking – can you suggest me how to work effectively minimizing customer complaints or maximizing customer delight etc.
Sometimes, while working one should take suggestions from customers or people whom you serve. These small tips are powerful motivator and energizer.
When I take my shoes off at the office, I wear slippers, this creates home style comfort 😉
This is great!!! Thank you for this one. 5 stars for sure.
By the by….this was a part of my break!!!
SHG
I like to take a lap around the building (walking.) I find that just a few seconds of fresh air and sunlight help settle and refocus me.
I also have a “motiviation” jar in my office. Its a little jar with positive sayings and affirmations on strips of paper in it. When I need to settle down or take a time out I pull a paper from there and read it. It works! I also find that when I have colleagues who might be a little frazzled I offer them the motivation jar to pull from. It helps them get their mojo back and takes the focus off the frustration for a few seconds which is really all you need to begin the cool down/calm down process.
Headphones and internet radio are the savior of the work place…I am convinced of it. At any given moment you can take fantastic voyage via musical interlude. Its true…music does soothe the savage.
Hi Dan; One and three are excellant. Acknowledging the positive efforts of others is the BEST way to assure their positive efforts will be repeated. Doing so publically increases the likely of positive behavior while letting others see you notice their effort truly appreciate them. But do so ‘only’ with sencerity. Fake accolades have negative effects while ruining the leaders credability. #3 – Self-evaluation. Every couple of monthes I take a hard look at how I’ve conducted my dailey professional life, looking for ways to increase my own efficiancy. How can a leader evaluate their subordinates, give suggestive advice for improvement while ignoring their own short comings????? BTW, ‘thank you’ my friend for all your help, guidance, advice, and encouragement. The symposium was a Grand Slam, standing ovation included. I hope you won’t mind, but I want to continue to keep in touch. “LONG LIVE Charater-Based Leadership”! ! !
Please excuse the obvious absence of key words in my previous statement, my BlackBerry is taking a crap!!!!!!!
I will try this out looks like its going to be soothing.
Love the idea of an office “thank-you tour”! Brilliant way to remind others– and ourselves– what the team means to us.
Reblogged this on Transformations Life Productions.
Really good list, Dan. I studied Jim Fannin’s “90-Second Rule” a couple of years back and it made a big difference. Breaking my day into quarters, getting to silence to quiet the mind followed by positive visualizations can be huge some days. It was counter-intuitive at first because I thought I should press on, but that turned out to be completely backwards.
“Breathe Like a Baby” and “Reboot” are two of my favorite Fannin exercises. One could weave some of the items on your list into 90-Second Rule exercises. Thank you for sharing them.