Tips to Boost Your Productivity

Posted on May 8, 2015

Have you ever noticed that sometimes the best way to solve a problem is to take a break from thinking about it? That’s because taking a timeout can allow you to recharge, refocus, and reevaluate a situation more clearly. Here are some ideas for adding breaks into your work day.

  • Pomodoro method The idea here is to work energetically for 25 minutes and then take a 5 minute break. After two hours of repeating this cycle, take a longer break of 30 minutes.
  • 90-minute work blocks This work pattern entails staying focused for 90 minutes and then taking a 20 minute break. The concept behind this method is that our natural cycles of alertness flow in 90 minute intervals.
  • The 52-17 method This option is a cross between Pomodoro and the 90-minute work block. It involves working productively for 52 minutes and then taking a 17 minute break. The thought here is to treat the 52 minutes as a sprint where you stay very focused on your work during that time.

Regardless of how you decide to fit breaks into your daily routine, it seems it might be beneficial to find a way to do just that. The bottom line is that breaks are better for our brains than overtime, Derek Thompson, The Atlantic, reported in 2012.

The same concept holds true when you take a vacation. Allowing yourself to get away often results in you returning to work refreshed and more productive than when you left. Self-reported job performance is”significantly higher after a vacation,” notes respite expert Dov Eden of the University of Tel Aviv.

Since August is one of the biggest vacation months for many professionals, there is no time like the present to test this theory for yourself. While you’re away, let JAN-PRO take the worry of cleaning off your mind. You can relax knowing JAN-PRO is helping you to maintain a healthy, orderly, and clean work environment.