What breaks do to your brain

We talked about the benefits of taking breaks in a previous blog post, but did you know that taking breaks has a huge effect on your employees' brains?

Just like an athlete who needs to rest after any physical exertion, brains need to rest after mental exertion. Did you know that our brains have a maximum time span of 40 minutes, regardless of education level and IQ? Conclusion: resting with regularity is important.

When we work, we deplete the part of our brain that is responsible for mental functions and our mental capacity: the frontal lobe.

The frontal lobe is responsible for decision-making, problem-solving thinking, planning, social behavior.... It allows us to make connections and gain insights and is thus a vital organ for the mental functions to function.

When we work, insights and data accumulate in the brain. It is only by taking regular breaks that that data is processed and stored. Moreover, working (too) long causes a substance to be produced in the brain that causes stress. It is only when our brain gets a break and can let go of everything for a while that it gets the breathing room it needs to process all the insights and data and neutralize the stress substances. The result is that you once again make room for new (creative) ideas and allow the mental functions to function optimally.

No doubt you've already experienced getting stuck on a problem, and the answer magically formed at a later time. Then you've experienced that taking strategic breaks helps you gain new insights. The frontal lobe is also, as mentioned earlier, responsible for that problem-solving thinking. So give it adequate rest and oxygen so that solutions can develop.

Long story short: make sure your employees "reset" the brain from time to time, but exactly how much time does that take?

Research shows that - apart from the lunch break - a break of 10-15 minutes already ensures increased concentration and creativity. Although this time can vary per individual. This is why we recommend that you take your own initiative and look for the ideal effort/relaxation ratio. Motivate your employees to take breaks and keep track of which breaks increase creativity, motivation and productivity.

Still looking for inspiration? Check out our blog post on this topic!

Discover 10 ideas for quality breaks at work >>>