When you are feeling overloaded, instead of pushing harder, a wise thing to do might be to take a short break. As we discussed in one of our previous posts, short breaks can revive your productivity and decrease tension. We looked deeper into the matter and put together some interesting facts, as well as practical advice on how to stay fresh and productive throughout the day. Here’s a guide to productive breaks in our new infographic! www.wrike.com/

1. How to Make Rest Work
for ... Work!
Are you afraid that water-cooler talks might threaten your efficiency?
Numerous studies show quite the opposite!
6 Useful Ways to Spend a Break at Work
Charge your brain with a quick snack
79% of workers believe coffee breaks make them more productive
Spark a conversation!
Informal chats with colleagues improve team spirit
and boost productivity by 20%
Take a nap to … stay awake!
Just 10 minutes are enough to reduce sleepiness and to regain
concentration
Workers who periodically surf the web for personal purposes
for a few minutes showed a 9% increase in productivity
Google for fun
Sources: ABC News • AndrewJensen.net • The Business Journals • Challenge magazine • Forbes • Reuters • Businessweek •
TalkAboutCoffee • The Atlantic • The Next Web • Working Well • The Workplace Doctors • The New York Times • Wrike
Infographic brought to you by . Project management software that makes life easier.
Why take breaks?
of employees feel breaks have
a positive effect on their productivity
rank taking a break as one of the most
powerful efficiency triggers
of office workers say a short rest
stimulates their creative thinking
71% 29%32%
Rock productivity with music!
Music with an upbeat rhythm can reduce stress by as much as 41%
Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger” and Gotye’s “Somebody
That I Used to Know” were named as the top
productivity-boosting songs of 2012
~The Science of Productive Breaks~
Top recommended snacks
for brain power
Oatmeal with berriesPlain yoghurt Raw carrots
Dark chocolateRaw nuts Peppermint tea
Google provides dedicated napping rooms
for its employees.
Wrist stretch,
palms down
Wrist stretch,
palms up
Regular walks
around the office
Shoulder stretch,
option 2
Shoulder and
neck stretch
Back
stretch
Side-to-side
turn of neck
Back and triceps
stretch
The most productive timing is taking
a 6-minute break every 90 minutes
How short should short breaks be?
Workers receiving alerts to take breaks are
13% more accurate in their work
Take breaks seriously
Regular, short exercise helps 53% of employees to feel more active
throughout the day and to be more focused in 42% of the cases.
Get away from your desk and move
39% Encouragement from top management
25% Participation from a boss or colleagues
33% Making it part of a company’s culture
35% Offering a break during paid time
What motivates us to take breaks?
Dropbox’s office comes with a fully
equipped music studio.