Research Says Work for 52 Minutes and Follow It Up With a 17-Minute Break
Take a break or not to take a break?
If we are to take a break, how long it should be and how frequent they should be, so that productivity does not suffer?
The business world has actively tried to pursue the answers to these questions.
Work-break proponents mine through every possible justification in an attempt to establish the vaguely answered. The critics, on the other hand, having previously devalued the credibility of the notion altogether – now maintain a more relaxed stance.
So, where “Take a break or not to take a break”—question, has been swiftly worked towards common grounds of resolution, the span and frequency of those breaks still characterize as the disputed in the productivity science.
However, it now appears that social scientists may have finally found the answer.
Working Smarter with Frequent Breaks
Draugieum Group is a social networking company. To find out the work habit secrets of their high performing employees, the company’s management conducted an experiment.
Through a time-tracking app, they studied the work patterns of their employees. Those, who had the highest productivity among their peers, were found to take regular breaks.
Elaborating on the employees’ work and break patterns: Draugieum Group’s most productive employees, work for 52 minutes—nonstop—and then follow it up with a 17-minute break. And so on, and so forth.
“…The secret to retaining the highest level of productivity…is not working longer—but working smarter with frequent breaks”
Julia Gifford, an employee at Draugieum Group, wrote when posting the results of the experiment.
Adding It All Up
There have been studies, conducted previously that have supported the idea of work breaks.But none seem to have gone beyond in the experimentation to determine the time window and frequency of these work breaks.
This could be first time that the business community might have an insight to answer the previously unansweredof the productivity science.
With all being said, one might wonder:
How work breaks actually boost productivity?
Behavioral experts associate the findings with the concept of psychological energy. According to these experts, every human has a pool of psychological energy that allows them to carry out their daily tasks. Unfortunately, this pool is limited—but fortunately replenish-able.
And it only replenishes, once you take a step back and allow your brain to relax.
Work breaks are necessary, and with the study conducted by Draugieum Group further establishing how frequent and how long they should be – companies can enact policies to create a productive working culture.
About Chrometa
Chrometa is a time tracking app that can be installed on PC or Mac, allowing users to expand on the details of how they utilize their time while performing a task, helping them to come up with effective time management strategies.