<p><strong>Micro-breaks are quick impromptu breaks</strong> that workers take in order to <strong>keep our energy levels steady in order to get through the day.</strong></p>

Micro-breaks

<p>The <em>Journal of Applied Psychology</em> and a research from <em>North Carolina State Univeristy</em> showed that workers who take micro-breaks actually lead to higher work engagement. </p>
<p>Employees who are fatigued but take micro-breaks frequently helped maintain their energy levels when taken at the right time.</p>

Studies backing micro-breaks

<figure><picture><source media="(max-width: 40em)" sizes="calc(100vw - 20px)" srcset="https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/w_300, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/ar_16:9, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/c_fill, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/g_auto, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/f_auto, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/q_auto, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/fl_lossy/wp-cms/uploads/2021/03/p-1-are-you-and8216micro-breakingand8217-enough-at-work.jpg 300w, https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/w_638, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/ar_16:9, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/c_fill, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/g_auto, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/f_auto, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/q_auto, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/fl_lossy/wp-cms/uploads/2021/03/p-1-are-you-and8216micro-breakingand8217-enough-at-work.jpg 638w"><img srcset="https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/w_562, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/ar_16:9, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/c_fill, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/g_auto, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/f_auto, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/q_auto, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/fl_lossy/wp-cms/uploads/2021/03/p-1-are-you-and8216micro-breakingand8217-enough-at-work.jpg 562w, https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/w_937, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/ar_16:9, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/c_fill, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/g_auto, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/f_auto, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/q_auto, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/fl_lossy/wp-cms/uploads/2021/03/p-1-are-you-and8216micro-breakingand8217-enough-at-work.jpg 937w, https://images.fastcompany.net/image/upload/w_1153, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/ar_16:9, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/c_fill, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/g_auto, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/f_auto, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/q_auto, https://www.fastcompany.com/90616081/fl_lossy/wp-cms/uploads/2021/03/p-1-are-you-and8216micro-breakingand8217-enough-at-work.jpg 1153w" alt="Are you ‘micro-breaking’ enough at work?" width="705" height="396"></picture></figure><div>advertisement</div><div>advertisement</div><div>advertisement</div><p>This just in: When workers chat in the hall or take snack breaks or wander outside for five minutes, they’re not procrastinating. They’re boosting their productivity.</p><div>advertisement</div><p dir="ltr">This is the incredibly practical finding of a new <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33646798/" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">pair of studies</a> in the <em dir="ltr">Journal of Applied Psychology, </em>which show that micro-breaks—short, often impromptu rests—help workers maintain their energy levels throughout the day, leading to higher work engagement.</p><p dir="ltr">Researchers followed workers in the United States and South Korea, and found that employees take micro-breaks <em dir="ltr">more&nbsp;</em>frequently on days when they arrive on the job fatigued—and that those micro-breaks help them maintain their energy levels.</p><p dir="ltr">“A five-minute break can be golden if you take it at the right time,” <a href="https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/ncsu-tat031621.php" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">says</a> coauthor Sophia Cho, an assistant professor of psychology at North Carolina State University. “Our study shows that it is in a company’s best interest to give employees autonomy in terms of taking micro-breaks—it helps employees effectively manage their energy and engage in their work throughout the day.”</p><img src="https://assets.fastcompany.com/image/upload/v1611599157/fc-compass-logo-knockout-svg.svg" alt="" width="240" height="65"><p><strong>Innovation in your inbox</strong></p><p><span dir="ltr">  Sign up for the daily newsletter </span></p><div><button>Sign Up</button></div><p>This just in: When workers chat in the hall or take snack breaks or wander outside for five minutes, they’re not procrastinating. They’re boosting their productivity.</p><div>advertisement</div><p dir="ltr">This is the incredibly practical finding of a new <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33646798/" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">pair of studies</a> in the <em dir="ltr">Journal of Applied Psychology, </em>which show that micro-breaks—short, often impromptu rests—help workers maintain their energy levels throughout the day, leading to higher work engagement.</p><p dir="ltr">Researchers followed workers in the United States and South Korea, and found that employees take micro-breaks <em dir="ltr">more&nbsp;</em>frequently on days when they arrive on the job fatigued—and that those micro-breaks help them maintain their energy levels.</p><p dir="ltr">“A five-minute break can be golden if you take it at the right time,” <a href="https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/ncsu-tat031621.php" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">says</a> coauthor Sophia Cho, an assistant professor of psychology at North Carolina State University. “Our study shows that it is in a company’s best interest to give employees autonomy in terms of taking micro-breaks—it helps employees effectively manage their energy and engage in their work throughout the day.”</p>

No, you’re not procrastinating. Taking short breaks can actually boost your productivity.


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<p>This just in: When workers chat in the hall or take snack breaks or wander outside for five minutes, they’re not procrastinating. They’re boosting their productivity. </p>

<p>This is the incredibly practical finding of a new <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33646798/">pair of studies </a>in the <em>Journal of Applied Psychology, </em>which show that micro-breaks—short, often impromptu rests—help workers maintain their energy levels throughout the day, leading to higher work engagement. </p>

<p>Researchers followed workers in the United States and South Korea, and found that employees take micro-breaks <em>more  </em>frequently on days when they arrive on the job fatigued—and that those micro-breaks help them maintain their energy levels. </p>

<p>“A five-minute break can be golden if you take it at the right time,” <a href="https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-03/ncsu-tat031621.php">says </a>coauthor Sophia Cho, an assistant professor of psychology at North Carolina State University. “Our study shows that it is in a company’s best interest to give employees autonomy in terms of taking micro-breaks—it helps employees effectively manage their energy and engage in their work throughout the day.” </p>

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Are you ‘micro-breaking’ enough at work?

Micro-breaks

Studies backing micro-breaks

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