Stop Working: Take a Break!
Focusing on one thing during the day can really fry your brain. You’ll get sleepy no doubt, lose interest and the will to continue working. The solution? Break it up in to sections of accomplishments and insert some breaks in there.
This will set up so you work quickly towards a goal, and the reward is what ever you want to do on your break. In an office, this could really set off some (superior) individuals, so be careful. Working at home, however, you have all the options in the world. Staying active during the day with short breaks is key to being productive. Being on a break 10 minutes out of every hour will do more for your productivity than not.
For example, as I’ve mentioned countless times I’m on vacation (Jul 21 - Aug 4, WP auto posting). The two days before I left I wrote what must’ve been 20 blog articles, with only 4 or so the first day. 16+ articles in a day can seem really daunting, but here’s how I got through it.
- Calendar. I have my 3 week calendar (poorly hand drawn) set up with every single headline I’m going to be writing. When I’m done I just “X” out that day. This provdes a great sense of accomplishment, and after every two posts or so, maybe one and a half, I take a break.
- Times of day vary. I woke up early (8AM I started working) and made a high calorie and protein breakfast. With a lot of fresh energy I banged off three articles very quickly, then took a half hour break to work out (that breakfast wasn’t so loaded for no reason). Even further energized I hit a couple more articles through out the morning and after noon. At night I wrote some more, and the next morning (the day I left) I wrote the last of it.
- Exercise. Exercising should give you energy, not take away. Don’t run 5km, but do something to be active and get your blood flowing.
- Play video games. Nothing like mindless violence to free your mind, right?
- Leave thing half finished. I took said breaks at random times throughout some articles, so when I get back I can finish up and move on quickly.
You’re reading this, so it must’ve worked! Loud music and few distractions (I leave email and RSS open, but IM has to get turned off for me) help as well. When I’m being productive, I’ll leave IM off. Even if I tell myself it won’t distract me, it always does. If I’m being very productive I might not even sign in for weeks on end!
Leave a comment
Andre Ward
July 30th, 2007 at 4:33 PM
Very true what you say Connor, taking breaks is indeed helpful. After all all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. And the IM thing is so true, I never can concentrate when the IM is open!
Adam
August 2nd, 2007 at 10:27 AM
I totally agree with this. Especially if you’re programming or coding. Taking breaks give you time to step back from the problem, think about possible fixes and then get back to programming with a fresh mind.
L3ggy
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:11 PM
Great post, Shame you can’t get up in the middle of exams :P. Also i know connor NEVER comes online.
Michael Cullen
August 6th, 2007 at 10:26 PM
Thanks for this guide. Although in the next two days I probably will not be following it, I want to try to. That would make life MUCH more enjoyable!
Robert MacEwan
September 9th, 2007 at 5:49 PM
Don’t laugh but when you hit the late 30’s breaks are needed for eye focus.
MB Web Design
October 2nd, 2007 at 4:12 AM
This is exactly the approach I take - many small goals throughout the day give the impression you’ve done lots of work (even if you haven’t! but who cares, you still feel great)
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