A new study in PlosOne reports that small breaks at work improve well-being and may prevent burnout.
We hear more and more that people are leaving work due to burnout, as a result of a prolonged period of stress and overload where you often feel tired and cannot do your work the way you want to.
Workplace burnout has been a major concern of the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2019, which describes the occupational phenomenon as “a syndrome that develops after chronic stress in a workplace that has not been successfully managed.”
With this in mind, researchers at the University of West Timisoara in Romania conducted 30 years of research on 10-minute “mini-breaks” to see their benefits.
The dimensional analysis A total of 22 studies reviewed on the benefits of micro-breaks; The results were published in the journal PLUS ONE.
The nature of the break determines its usefulness
During the ten-minute breaks studied, employees did things like: watch a video, go for a walk, help a colleague, set work-related goals or to-do lists, or chat with other colleagues during the break.
The activity performed during the minute break appears to be an important factor in how beneficial the break is. Helping a co-worker or doing anything else related to the job led to negative feelings associated with the break.
According to the authors, “small breaks related to work led to decreased well-being, decreased sleep quality and increased negative moods.”
On the other hand, periods of physical rest have been identified as particularly beneficial. “Physical activities such as stretching and exercise were associated with increased positive emotions and reduced fatigue,” the authors wrote.
They also noted that mini spacers are not a one-size-fits-all. The duration and nature of the “restorative break” appears to vary according to the profession and the difficulty of the job.
break culture
Katie Moore, a clinical psychologist with Affirming Psychological Services, participated in the evaluation of the study findings and advised employers to establish a culture that allows sufficient short breaks for their employees. “The work environment should be such that employees do not feel watched, judged, or feel guilty about taking short breaks,” she says.
Burnout can occur when people feel overwhelmed because they have too many expectations during a normal working day, because they no longer see the meaning of their work, have too little free time or are expected to work longer than agreed in the contract. Untreated fatigue can lead to serious psychological complaints such as insomnia or depression.
According to the World Health Organization, there are three symptoms that indicate (imminent) exhaustion: fatigue, negative feelings about or away from work, and finally a sharp decrease in the efficiency with which a person performs his tasks.
