Taking a break improves productivity, but we often need help
A number of studies have shown that taking breaks in the middle of long periods of work actually improve our outcomes—whether it is memorization for a test, creative problem solving, or accuracy on the job.
“When the mind is at rest (engaging in mind-wandering or daydreaming), parts of the brain that aid in memory storage and consolidation, as well as information retrieval, are highly active.”
Other studies have shown the opposite: our performance drops after focusing on one task for a long time. The good news is that even small breaks make significant difference in focus.
Yet not all breaks are equal. Getting up and moving, or taking a walk, make a much bigger difference than cruising on social media. And almost all of us have been in the situation where we’re “just going to finish this one little problem” only to find ourselves stuck at the computer for another two hours.
So we recommend getting some digital help—there are a variety software apps that help us take a break from the computer. Here are our recommendations:
AntiRSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) ($5.99)
Awareness (free)
Timeout (free)