Mid-morning work break improves health, productivity

Rather than the typical culture of working hard all morning only to take a lunch-hour or mid-afternoon break, a respite earlier in the workday replenishes more resources - energy, concentration and motivation - interesting research has revealed.

The study also found the frequent short breaks are better than longer breaks and people who take "better breaks" experience better health and increased job satisfaction.

"We found that when more hours had elapsed since the beginning of the work shift, fewer resources and more symptoms of poor health were reported after a break," the study said.

"Therefore, breaks later in the day seem to be less effective," the study noted.

For the study, Emily Hunter and Cindy Wu, associate professors of management in Baylor University in Texas, US surveyed 95 employees (ages 22-67) over a five-day workweek, and each person was asked to document each break they took during that time.

Breaks were defined as "any period of time, formal or informal, during the workday in which work-relevant tasks are not required or expected, including but not limited to a break for lunch, coffee, personal email or socialising with coworkers, not including bathroom breaks."

The researchers found no evidence to prove that non-work-related activities such as going for a cup of coffee or walk were more beneficial.

"Finding something on your break that you prefer to do - something that is not given to you or assigned to you - are the kinds of activities that are going to make your breaks much more restful, provide better recovery and help you come back to work stronger," Hunter said.

The employee surveys showed that recovery of resources - energy, concentration and motivation - following a "better break" (earlier in the day, doing things they preferred) led workers to experience less somatic symptoms, including headache, eyestrain and lower back pain after the break.

The study appeared in the Journal of Applied Psychology.