FACTS — REGULAR BREAKS AT WORK
“Regular breaks can support concentration, energy and performance.”
Working continuously for long periods can increase mental and physical fatigue. Short, regular opportunities to pause can give the brain and body time to reset before returning to a task.
Breaks are not simply about stopping work. They can help someone regulate attention, reduce cognitive overload and manage the demands of the working environment.
Why might breaks be important?
During a working day, people may be managing:
- Sustained concentration and decision-making
- Screen fatigue and eye strain
- Sensory overload from noise, lighting or busy environments
- Physical discomfort from sitting or repetitive tasks
- Emotional demands and difficult conversations
- Executive functioning demands
- Social interaction and communication
- Stress and increasing mental fatigue
What can a useful break look like?
A break does not always need to be long. Depending on the person, it might mean standing and stretching, getting some fresh air, having a drink, eating something, moving away from a screen, sitting somewhere quieter or simply having a few minutes without demands.
For some neurodivergent, disabled or chronically ill employees, more frequent or flexible breaks may also form part of helpful workplace adjustments.
Breaks can be preventative
Waiting until someone is completely overwhelmed or exhausted may make recovery much harder.
Taking shorter breaks before reaching that point can help someone recognise and respond to their needs earlier.
Remember
People have different levels of energy, concentration and sensory tolerance. What helps one employee may not help another.
A supportive workplace should focus less on how long somebody can work without stopping and more on what enables them to work effectively, safely and sustainably throughout the day.
Rest can be part of productive working — not the opposite of it.
Space to Breathe Therapy
