We all know that we should take breaks during the day. But, for many of us, it’s hard to actually do it. We have too much to do, we’re too busy, and all of those excuses are true—but we still need to take time for ourselves.
The easiest way to make sure you’re taking a break is just to set aside a few minutes in your schedule each time to do something that’s just for you. It’s easy to forget about yourself when you’re working so hard, but taking care of yourself is a necessity if you want to be able to keep working hard!
Here are some ideas for ways that you can have breaks every time:
Brew coffee or tea
Simply brew some green tea. Green tea is a great way to relax and refresh yourself during the day. It has antioxidants that are good for your body, and it tastes delicious! Let stand for 2 minutes before drinking; then enjoy!
Do a breathing exercise or meditate
- Learn how to breathe. Breathing is the foundation of meditation and relaxation, so it’s important that you know how to breathe properly.
- There are many different types of breathing exercises and meditations you can do throughout your break at work, but they all have one thing in common: they will help you relax. The National Institute of Health recommends taking a few minutes every time to practice these techniques as part of its Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. You can also try counting or focusing on your breathing for short periods of time if this isn’t something that appeals to you.
- Know when to have breaks: If it works best for your schedule, try taking breaks at different times throughout the day—for example, once per hour or half-way through each shift
- Give yourself time away from your desk or other places where you spend most of your time working and thinking about work-related tasks like answering emails and planning projects or meetings with coworkers/clients respectively etc., which means that during these breaks we won’t be doing any work-related tasks whatsoever because our brain still needs time off even though we aren’t actually physically leaving our desks yet!
Stare out of a window
Looking out of a window is one of the easiest ways to have a break in the middle of the day. Looking at trees, flowers and nature is calming and relaxing. Looking at the sky can help you feel more connected with your life energy. In addition, if it’s sunny outside then looking at the weather can be uplifting; if it’s cloudy or raining then this might not be as positive for you but nonetheless will still give you some time to yourself.
If you don’t have a window then look at pictures of nature or landscapes that are inspiring such as mountains or waterfalls
Read a page of a book or a blog post
Reading is a great way to take a break, as it allows you to relax and unwind. If you’re looking for something light and enjoyable, try reading an article or blog post. You could even read a newspaper or magazine if you’d like something more in-depth. Reading is the perfect way to have a break because it’s both relaxing and educational.
This can be a good substitute for social media checking
Reading is a great way to relax and escape during your lunch break. It’s also a good way to help you focus if you’re having trouble concentrating. Reading keeps your mind active and improves your vocabulary, which can help improve your ability to communicate well with others. If you’re looking for ways to get better sleep, reading before bedtime can help too! Finally, reading can help reduce stress levels by distracting you from stressful situations or thoughts in the moment.
Tidy up a part of your room
Make your bed, put away any clothes that are on the floor, and wipe down surfaces. This will give you a sense of accomplishment and also make your room look better than before.
Not only that, but it’s a good way to get into a routine of tidying up as well—if you keep it up every morning, then it’ll become second nature over time!
Lie down with your eyes closed or nap
It’s important to note that this is not the same as actually sleeping. With your eyes closed, you may find yourself drifting in and out of sleep, but you won’t be able to drift deeply enough for a full REM sleep cycle. That said, it’ll still help calm down your brain after a long time at work or school. It will also give you some downtime before going back out into the world again!
Make sure that when doing this kind of break, you’re in a quiet place where no one can bother or distract you from relaxing—and make sure it’s somewhere comfortable enough that you don’t feel like getting up once you start lying down (a couch works well). It’s also good if there isn’t anything too exciting on TV while getting ready for bed—if there are any movies playing nearby then turn those off so they don’t distract either! If possible try turning off lights as well: darkness helps us sleep better naturally because our bodies thinks we’re “safe” inside so everything stops being tense all over again–this means less stress throughout our bodies which makes it easier to relax overall.
Stand up and stretch
The best way to get the blood flowing again is by standing up and stretching. It will help you refocus and improve your posture while improving range of motion and muscle tone.
Stretching can also be relaxing, helping you decompress after a stressful day at work or school.
Take a short walk
- Walk around the house. This might sound silly, but it’s a great way to get some fresh air and exercise without having to leave your house or go outside in the cold. Get up from your desk for a few minutes every hour, walk around and stretch, then sit back down and get back to work.
- Go for a walk (or run) around the block. If you have time before or after work, have advantage of it by getting some exercise! You can do this by going for a quick jog (or brisk walk), or even taking an extended break so you can go on a long run outdoors if possible.
- Go on an adventure with friends! If you’re feeling especially adventurous one day this week, go exploring with someone else who also needs some fresh air and physical activity—it’s always more fun when there are other people involved!
Have a chat with a roommate or a colleague
Talking with a roommate or colleague can be a great way to have a break from the day’s work. If you don’t feel like talking about anything in particular, that’s fine—you just want to get some time away from your desk and enjoy some human contact.
Even if your coworker is completely different from you and doesn’t share any of your interests, this can still give you an opportunity to have a conversation that helps put things into perspective. The more ideas that come into your head during this kind of talk time, the better prepared you’ll be when it comes time to tackle whatever project is on your plate at work.
If nothing else, chatting with someone will make them feel more connected to their job and their coworkers (and by extension, their company). And let’s face it: there’s nothing better than knowing that one person who has all of these qualities!
Call someone
Whether you’re in the middle of a stressful day or simply want to have a break, calling someone you trust can be the best way to refresh yourself and continue your work with a clear head. If you don’t feel like talking with anyone at work (or even if you do), consider calling an old friend who understands what it’s like to be in your shoes and won’t judge whatever comes out of your mouth as unprofessional.
Do a quick workout
The best way to take a quick, efficient workout break is by doing cardio and core exercises. These won’t require any equipment at all, so you can get your heart rate up in just a few minutes.
Jumping jacks: Stand with feet together and arms at sides, then jump both feet out wide as if you were about to do a jumping jack. Jump back into starting position.
High knees: Start off in the same position as for jumping jacks, but instead of bringing your feet back down together, bring them knee height each time.
Mountain climbers: Begin standing up straight with arms bent at 90 degrees and hands on hips. Then bring one foot forward directly underneath the opposite arm (i.e., right foot under left arm). Switching which leg moves first each time counts as one rep.
Take a nap
- Napping is a great way to take a break during the day.
- Naps can be beneficial for your health and performance, especially if you nap between one and three hours in length. The best time to nap is usually between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., as it’s harder for your body to fall asleep at night than during the day.
- To maximize its rejuvenating effects, keep naps short—no longer than 20 minutes—and don’t nap too close to bedtime (more than six hours before bedtime). If possible, go straight from work into your nap without taking any breaks or eating first; this will help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer because it allows your body temperature to drop slightly before falling asleep.
Take a shower
Take a shower. It might not sound too exciting, but taking time to wash off the grime of the day can be a truly relaxing experience that will make you feel like a new person. If you’re feeling particularly stressed out and tense, try adding some essential oils to your bath or shower—they’ll help soothe your nerves and may even remove any unwanted smells from your skin (like garlic or cigarettes). You might also want to try using one of those fancy exfoliating sponges on yourself: their gentle scrubbing motion will leave your skin feeling smoother than ever before!
Another thing that can help is having some nice music playing as background noise when taking showers/baths; this has been proven as an effective way for people with chronic illnesses such as depression or anxiety disorders.
Eat a healthy snack
Here’s a way to take a break when you don’t have much time. It’s easy, quick and healthy!
When it comes to snacking, skip the chips and cookies. Try an apple or a banana instead! An apple is great because it’s crunchy and sweet at the same time. You can also dip your peeled banana in almond butter for an extra dose of protein. Sometimes it’s nice to have something salty with your fruit too—peanut butter adds just the right amount of saltiness when paired with bananas (or apples!).
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many ways to take a break during the day. Taking a break from work can help you recharge, which will help you be more productive and happier in your job. You can take a walk around the block or go for a run outside. You can also do some stretches or even just close your eyes for five minutes. It is important to remember that taking breaks is not about relaxing all day; it is about recharging so that you can be more effective when you return to work.
