Info CRESS EAP
Summer 2015
Take a Break – A Win-Win Scenario
We all know that there are renewable and non-renewable energy sources;
however do you know about your own energy, the energy that you need to work,
to perform, to function, or to simply have fun?
The human being is not a machine but we can easily forget this by being willing to
always give our 110% in all areas of our lives. To take a break does not mean to
interrupt everything but to simply slow down for a moment; a pause will help you
to better perform. It is a bit like doing a shutdown of our own machine.
When work asks us a lot (work pressure, long days, focus, exactness...), we
sometimes need to drop off on familial and personal activities and choose simple
activities in order to recharge our own batteries. It happens that we live difficult
issues whether personal (illness, separation, financial issues...) or familial;
therefore, it is important to give us some time and most importantly to be able to
recognize burnout signs. It is then important to allow us a break in order to better
manage the crisis situation.
Some Facts:
 Between 1998 and 2010, in the province of Quebec, the weekly time spent
for work increased of 3.9 hours, while free time of Quebeckers decreased of
3 hours per week;
 65% of all workers take their meals over their keyboards or at their
workstation;
 45% of all workers took weight while working at their first job and 25% took
more of 5 kg because of the sedentary way of living.
Info CRESS EAP
Summer 2015
According to several studies, to take a coffee-break promotes efficiency, wellbeing, creativity, as well as strengthening social connexions. The break allows
workers to adopt a more active and healthy lifestyle.
A daily break is consequently essential in order to succeed in maintaining our life
balance. You only need to find the kind of pause that you need.
The Physical Break
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Do often ergonomic short breaks (change positions, stretch out)
Take time to breath
Look away in order to take a visual break
Take a walk during lunch breaks (ideally 20 minutes)
Take a healthy snack
Furthermore, the physical break often allows us to exit our sedentary way of
life in order to take action. The Canadian recommendations specify that an
adult should do a minimum of 150 minutes of physical activities each week.
It is possible to accumulate these minutes each time you do 10 minutes of
physical activity.
The Psychological Break
 Laugh with colleagues
 Talk about other things than work
 Take a moment to observe the sky by the window
We need to remember that studies illustrate that the human being has an
average capacity to be focussed of 90 minutes; after 90 minutes, it is
important to take a break in order to stay productive.
Info CRESS EAP
Summer 2015
The Social Break
 Eat with your colleagues a few times a week
 Take time to chat with your co-workers
It is also important to know how to take a work break at home. Although
new technologies make easier the daily work, they also make more difficult
the separation between work and home. In conclusion, we need to put aside
our computers and cell phones in order to enjoy the present even for few
hours, when possible.
At Home We Need To
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Not be physically at the workplace
Accept to put aside our perfectionism that prevent us to enjoy rest periods
Spare yourself during physical or social activities
Take time to relax by listening to music, reading, meditating, or by doing all
activities that allow you to take good care of yourself
Sources :
http://productivite.lesaffaires.com/gestion-de-la-performance/rendement-et-rentabilite/sixraisons-pour-prendre-une-pause-efficace/les-affaires#.Vd8F0Pl_Oko
http://www.jobboom.com/carriere/prendre-une-pause-pour-mieux-travailler/
http://www.lefigaro.fr/vie-entreprise/2011/06/19/09008-20110619ARTFIG00241-lesbienfaits-de-la-pause-cafe-au-bureau.php
http://bigbrowser.blog.lemonde.fr/2010/12/17/travail-pause-cafe-et-productivite-font-ilsbon-menage/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/carriere/0708-detente-bureau/3.shtml