It may seem paradoxical, but one of the most powerful things you can do to boost your productivity is to stop working—for a few minutes at a time. A clinical psychologist explains the “ripple effect” of a single micro-break, showing how a brief pause can positively impact your physiology, focus, and overall performance for hours to come.
When you work non-stop on a task, your focus inevitably wanes and your physiological stress levels rise. You become less efficient, more prone to errors, and your creativity plummets. Pushing through this state is like trying to drive a car on a nearly empty tank of gas.
A micro-break is your pit stop. Taking just a couple of minutes to do some deep breathing or light stretching accomplishes two things. First, it calms your nervous system, reducing the level of stress hormones in your body. Second, it gives the focused parts of your brain a momentary rest, allowing them to come back to the task refreshed.
This single pause creates a positive ripple effect. With a calmer body and a refreshed mind, you can re-engage with your work with greater clarity and efficiency. You’ll likely accomplish more in the hour after a break than you would in an hour of “powering through.” Integrating these pauses throughout your day is a strategic way to manage the physiological toll of work and maintain peak performance.