Revive Your Creativity, Take a Break at Work

Have you ever taken a break at work, only to find yourself even more tired and/or distracted than before? That's because there are right ways and wrong ways to take breaks. The idea of a work break is not just to be away from work; it's to refresh your mind and body so you're ready to continue with the rest of the day.

The type of break you take should be based on the job you do. If your work involves heavy physical labor, sit down, relax, and use your mind for a while. If, instead, you work in a sedentary job, get moving.

Start with physical activity. Your teachers really did know best when they made you go outside and run around after being in class for hours on end. A short walk might be all you need. Try walking outside in a pretty area - a garden, park, or shoreline is perfect. Or if it works for you hygienically, try a little light exercise - ten or fifteen minutes of easy weightlifting, biking, or jogging. Don't bring your work with you on your walk or run; instead, listen to music or just daydream.

Laughing can also be good cardiovascular exercise - believe it or not - and can get your mind off work. Try chatting with your more enjoyable co-workers, or keeping a comedy CD around to listen to. Or give your sweetheart a quick call to just catch up with the day.

If it's your mind that needs revving up, there are plenty of options. Keeping a Reader's Digest around is great; the articles are short and easy to read, and you can find almost anything you want in them. Another option is to pick up books of short-short stories and read a couple when you're on break; good stories like this can keep your mind occupied for long hours of physical labor afterward. You can even write a haiku. Or try a quick bout of meditation; there are some very simple self-hypnosis and meditation techniques that can relax your mind and body within a ten-minute break period.

How Not To Spend A Work Break

The mistake most people make that has them dragging through the rest of the day: treating it like a literal coffee break. While coffee will wake you up for a little while, the quick burst of energy tapers off just as fast, and you'll be even more tired for the rest of the day. And what's coffee without a donut? Not only do you not need those calories, but the sugar fix gives you, again, the quick burst of energy followed by physical and mental lethargy as your body tries to process all that insulin and sugar.

If you must have a snack, get something that has lots of fiber, but no processed sugars or caffeine. The perfect snack: carrot and celery sticks. They're high fiber, have just enough natural sugar to give you a little energy, and they're also good for you. Besides, they're crunchy - and crunchy foods wake you up too. Smokers (another bad work break habit) who are trying to quit are likely to find them comforting as well.
While it's better to get moving than to get eating, light snacks won't hurt you. Besides the veggie sticks, you can try apples, granola bars, crackers with a little cheese, even a boiled egg. Crunchy snacks are better. Avoid nutrition drinks; they aren't as satisfying as solid foods.