When do I take breaks when working remotely?

Working from home means you have a lot more freedom, right?!

But, when you’re concentrating on your work you might forget to take breaks or not know when to take them without designated hours.

Taking breaks can have a lot of benefits that you might not be aware of:

• Gives your body a chance to recharge

• Reduces cognitive load

• Less likely to decrease in energy throughout the day

• Boosts productivity

• Reduces risk of decision fatigue

• Leads to better sleep

If you're unsure of when to take a break, your body will probably let you know!

Take a break if you're experiencing any of the following situations :

• You start lacking focus

• Your eyes are tired/feel strained

• You feel hungry close to mealtime

• Your kid(s)/pet(s) need interaction

Apply your knowledge to these scenarios:

Carissa was beginning her workday when her friend suddenly called her to chat about their day.

Steven has been working since early in the morning and his eyes feel strained from staring at the computer for so long.

Hans worked past his usual lunch break because of a deadline. He's thinking about taking a break to eat since he's finished with his urgent work.

Anne has been working on a project for several hours and is facing writer's block. She's thinking about taking a break to clear her head.

The easiest way to make sure you're taking enough breaks is to find activities that get you excited to take a break.

• Hobbies unrelated to work (e.g. if you’re an accountant, consider reading a fun book)

• Take a walk

• Interact with your kid(s)/pet(s)

• Chat with a friend

• Grab a snack

If your break is during a time where a deadline is coming up, give your colleagues a heads up that you are about to take a short break.

Photo by Mimi Thian on Unsplash

This is so that they don’t interrupt your break or wait on you for an answer to an issue when you’re not available.

Don’t hold yourself to a super detailed schedule. 

Give yourself space to adjust your schedule according to your day. Set overall goals during your day, such as a specific number of breaks rather than planning the exact time blocks for breaks.

Closely tying your workday to a hard plan will only cause you more stress!

It's time to take your break, so try out these tips: