Many employees shorten their lunch break to make progress on their files, respond to their emails or complete an urgent task. However, to remain efficient all day, you should take a break of a specific duration.
A meeting that overflows, an inbox that explodes, a file that needs to be finished quickly… and the lunch break takes second place. Many employees eat something on the go in front of their computer or continue to work while eating. At the time, the idea seems logical: save time to stay up to date. Except that the brain cannot go on for hours without rest. By eliminating or shortening your break too much, you end up losing concentration, efficiency and sometimes even motivation throughout the afternoon.
Experts compare this need for a break to that of sleep or recovery after physical exertion. The brain needs moments when it no longer processes the same information, when it can release the pressure and start again on a better basis. The problem is that even when a break is planned in the schedule, it doesn’t always allow you to really relax. Charles Hipps, founder and director of the company specializing in recruitment Oleeo, regularly observes this phenomenon. “We often stay mentally in work mode”he explains. “You can eat at your desk, check your messages or skip your break without ever really disconnecting.” As a result, the break exists on paper but not necessarily in reality.
So the question is not just about taking a break, but about taking a break long enough to allow for a real disconnect. Because when time is short, the break can quickly become a source of additional stress. Many go out to buy something to eat, run a quick errand or go out for a few minutes for a walk, then look at their watch every five minutes wondering if they should go back to work already. In these conditions, it is difficult to recover mentally. Conversely, having a more comfortable time slot allows you to have a leisurely lunch, chat with colleagues, go out for some fresh air or simply get away from all professional demands for a moment.
As you will have understood, a break of 30 to 45 minutes allows you to eat, but does not necessarily give you time to completely relax. To truly recover and come back more focused in the afternoon, Charles Hipps recommends a 75-minute break. An hour and a quarter may seem like a lot in some businesses, yet experts say that time is far outweighed by better focus, less mental fatigue, and an increased ability to remain efficient until the end of the day.
Charles Hipps concludes by stating: “Human beings are not machines”. He continues: “Energy fluctuates throughout the day and with the seasons. If starting a little earlier and taking a longer break allows a person to come back more alert, calmer and more productive, that’s not wasted time, it’s a better use of the day.”
