You may feel guilty for mentally checking out for a few minutes, but taking a short break from a task that requires mental concentration can actually be good for your productivity in the long run, according to a recent piece in the New York Times:
Want to be more productive? Keep your nose to the grindstone, or your fingers on the keyboard and your eyes on the screen. Because the more time you put in, the more you’ll get done, right?
Wrong. A growing body of evidence shows that taking regular breaks from mental tasks improves productivity and creativity — and that skipping breaks can lead to stress and exhaustion… Mental concentration is similar to a muscle, says John P. Trougakos, an assistant management professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough and the Rotman School of Management. It becomes fatigued after sustained use and needs a rest period before it can recover, he explains — much as a weight lifter needs rest before doing a second round of repetitions at the gym.
The next time you need a mental break from a task you are working on, spend a few minutes with your personal journal and return rejuvenated.
1. Keep your journal in your purse, briefcase or work bag so that it is easily accessible when you have a break.
2. Pay attention to your energy and focus throughout the day. If you reach a point during your workday where you are staring blankly at your computer screen or wasting time on social networks, it might be a sign that you need a 10-minute break. Set an alarm and free-write in your journal until your time is up.
3. Keep an ongoing list of journal writing topics in the front of your journal so you always have inspiration at your fingertips.
4. Use your personal journal as a collaborator when you need help solving a problem. If you get stuck on a project you are trying to complete, spend five minutes talking it out in your journal and coming up with possible solutions.
Do you ever take journal writing breaks throughout the day? Share your tips in the comments.
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