In an era of constant emails it is important to take a moment to sit back, take in a few breaths and yes, be non-productive. With that said we want to encourage our clients to make the most of their time by following some of our tips. While we may cringe at the idea of technology breaks we recognize to do the best work possible, we just have to take them.
Go ahead and just stop
It is okay to block out some time on your schedule to contemplate your business rather than engage in business tasks. Take a few hours to completely unplug from the email streams. You might be asking yourself how it is possible to step away from your email for more than a few minutes, trust us it is possible. Not only is it possible, but also you will see a tremendous benefit in doing so. Your work will become proactive and not reactive. Rather than constantly reacting to emails, use the time to focus on a separate list of to dos that might include time to think, and time to plan. We know it will be challenging at first but it is a great thing to do.
Take Breaks
As impossible as it may seem, it is essential to remove yourself from your keyboard. Studies have shown that taking regular breaks from mental tasks improves productivity and even creativity. If you don’t take breaks it is likely you will feel overly exhausted and stressed which will actually have a bigger impact than the few minutes you step away for a break. The brain becomes fatigued after sustained use and needs a rest period, before it can recover. Taking time to recharge is an essential part of the workday. As a marketing agency we struggle with this because it means not being connected, despite our complaints we force ourselves to take breaks.
Take a Walk
Sitting at a desk, for hours on end, doesn’t translate to more productivity. Giving your body some exercise is critical to your health both physically and mentally. Get up and walk as often as once every hour. It may seem like a great deal but your mind and body need it. Studies have found that taking a break away from your computer every 30 minutes could offer tremendous benefits. We try to make it a goal to step away from our computers at a minimum of every hour for a period of 5 to 10 minutes. It is important for the success of our business.