Make the most of a 10 minute work break | Activia (UK)

Make the most of a 10 minute work break

Take your hands away from the keyboard and give yourself a break! By saving just ten minutes for yourself, you'll find that you're more energised and efficient when you go back to work. So turn that screen off, put your phone on mute, and try some of these suggestions for an effective ten-minute break.

Recharge with a tasty snack
Charge up your batteries with a piece of fruit or a handful of unsalted nuts. Don't forget to drink water as well - it's easy to forget but staying hydrated will help you stay awake and motivated. Whenever you drink or eat, make sure you don't do it while you're working. Take a few minutes to enjoy your snack or drink, and you'll appreciate it all the more.


Stimulate your brain
If you feel like your concentration is drifting elsewhere, stop working and give yourself a ten-minute break. Quick mental exercises are great for waking up the brain and refocusing yourself. Try to complete a Sudoku in ten minutes, calculate how many miles you've run this week, or even write a haiku! Short, intense mental activities that force the mind to focus are excellent for brain training and improving memory. There are plenty of websites online that provide mental exercises, but ideally it's recommended to stay off the computer.


Leave your computer
Eyes can become strained, red and puffy from looking at a screen all day, so take a break and move away from the mouse. A quick ten-minute brisk walk, outside if possible, will wake you up and give your eyes a good stretch: being outdoors tests your long-distance vision. Use the time to focus on non-work-related thoughts or to run an errand.


Meditate with music
Put on some calming music and use your ten-minute break to meditate. Start by taking long, deep breaths - in through the nose and out through the mouth - which will have an instant calming effect, and let your mind drift. By choosing a track of 10 minutes, you won't have to worry about losing track of time: when the music stops, it's back to work! If meditation isn't your thing, or if you're worried about falling asleep by accident, choose one of your favourite happy songs instead. Tap those toes, shake those shoulders, and feel the energy...

These ten-minute-break ideas will leave you feeling calm, motivated and ready to get back to work!


"Quick mental exercises are great for waking up the brain and refocusing yourself."