Whether you’re facing back-to-back video calls or just a non-stop flurry of email, work can leave you in a screen haze unless you make a point of taking periodic, regenerative breaks. As a 2015 article in the Journal of Applied Psychology put it, our professional “energy, motivation and concentration…are like batteries that periodically need recharging.”
Taking a Break Doesn’t Always Mean Unplugging
Six healthy alternatives to doomscrolling.
March 03, 2021
Summary.
Frequent breaks help recharge our batteries at work, and while screen-free respites are usually best, sometimes you just can’t get away from your devices–and sometimes you just don’t want to. But the good news is that tech-based or -enhanced breaks can give you some of the same benefits as the offscreen variety, if you are able to include some combination of physical movement, social interaction, and brain stimulation. So take a few minutes to sing karaoke along with your favorite YouTube video, feel guilt-free about firing up a video game, or set aside time to chat with friends in the middle of the day.
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New!
HBR Learning
Time Management Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Time Management. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Make smarter, more purposeful choices about how you spend your day.