Take your break earlier, and spend it on something you enjoy

Workday breaks restored more energy when they came earlier in the day and were spent on something people enjoyed.

The study

The researchers followed 95 employees across five workdays and asked about their breaks and how they felt. Breaks taken earlier in the shift and spent on activities people preferred were followed by more recovered energy. That recovery was linked with better outcomes, including less emotional exhaustion and higher job satisfaction. Longer breaks, and frequent short ones, went with more energy than infrequent short breaks.

Starting small

Taking a break before you feel worn out, and spending it on something you like, may help it count. A mid-morning walk or a few minutes of reading are simple choices.