Psychology News
Researchers at the West University of Timioara, Romania, revealed how microbreaks at work can boost mental wellness and productivity. The study is published in the journal PLOS ONE.
The Study
The researchers reviewed 22 studies from 19 manuscripts published in the last 30 years. All of the studies dealt with the effects of microbreaks on the mental health of workers.
They studied various types of tasks (experiments, work simulations, real work-related tasks, and non-work-related cognitive tests) and breaks (like physical breaks, relaxing activities, and other leisure activities).
The Findings
The results revealed the long-term benefits of microbreaks. At work, 10-minute or lesser short breaks may improve performance, reduce fatigue, and increase vigor.
Therefore, take micro-breaks to protect your mental health against workplace exhaustion, stress, and burnout—especially in cognitively demanding tasks. The authors added: “Our results revealed that micro-breaks are efficient in preserving high levels of vigor and alleviating fatigue.”
To Know More You May Refer To
Albulescu, P., Macsinga, I., Rusu, A., Sulea, C., Bodnaru, A., & Tulbure, B. T. (2022). “Give me a break!” A systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of micro-breaks for increasing well-being and performance. PloS one, 17(8), e0272460. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272460