Benefits of regular screen breaks from your computer

Ever wanted to know the secret on how to become more productive? It’s simple really, take breaks! Taking a break is the action of having a pause in work or during an activity. Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) suggests that it's better to take shorter breaks more often at your workstation than longer breaks and less often. Research has also found the most productive people work for 52 minutes, then take breaks for up to 17 minutes. The success of this formula comes from the fact that, if you are working you will be dedicated to the accomplishment of tasks, getting things done, and making progress. Whilst during the breaks, you’re completely removed from the work you’re doing. The ability of being able to deactivate and then reactivate allows you to stay focused. Furthermore, excessive work can lead not just to mental strain however there will also be an affect to your physical health. Eyestrain, headaches and blurred vision are just some of the symptoms that can suggest that you’ve spent too much time at your desk. This is known as computer vision syndrome. It is advised to give your eyes regular breaks, and as a result this will reduce discomfort and eyestrain. It is also recommended that when sitting at your desk for long periods of time, you need to ease the tension. What I mean by this is that sitting in the same position for a long time can lead to the feeling of being tense and achy. It’s normal to find tension across your back, neck, shoulders and arms. This should indicate to you when a break is needed. This is why it’s crucial to use your breaks to move around. Research has also found that short breaks throughout the day can result in being more alert. It’s no surprise to find that working long hours can lead to fatigue. This being why we suggest to take breaks to improve your productivity and quality of work, attention levels, awareness and how fast you work. Your body will give you signals such as; finding it difficult to concentrate, feeling tired, being hungry and feeling restless as to when you need to have a short break. Breaks can lead to a huge release in stress. If you are productive in your breaks, such as taking a walk or even going to the gym it will give you time to unwind and recover from your work. Breaks also can give you a sense of achievement, as when you have successfully finished a task you are rewarded with a break. There are very good health and productivity reasons to take a break, this with the legal aspect which requires any worker who has been working for 6 hours or more a 20-minute break. Moreover, if you work at a computer the law requires you to take regular breaks in the nature and intensity of the work. In conclusion, it is heavily recommended to take regular breaks if you are working at your computer. This with the benefits of increases in attention, your productivity and the quality of your work. Furthermore, without regular breaks you are likely to suffer from tension across your back, neck, shoulders and arms. As discussed in the above paragraph, you are also entitled to breaks which you should make the most of, this will not just be to of an advantage to you but also the company you work for.

For more information on Benefits of regular screen breaks from your computer talk to Relaxa Posture Group