Breaks revolutionize everyday working life: This is how microbreaks increase your performance!

Stress and hecticness in everyday working life not only affect the well-being but also the productivity of employees. According to a report by finance.net Microbreaks can help counteract the negative effects. According to Section 4 of the Working Hours Act (ArbZG), employers are obliged to grant break times. Employees who work more than six hours must take a break of at least 30 minutes, while those who work more than nine hours are required to take a break of 45 minutes, which can also be divided into three breaks of 15 minutes each.

A survey by the Health and Work Initiative (iga) shows that around a quarter of the 323 respondents often or always forego breaks. The main reasons for this are time and deadline pressure as well as a lack of staff. Breaks often take place directly at the workplace, which makes regeneration more difficult. Microbreaks, on the other hand, are short breaks of a few seconds to a maximum of 10 minutes and can reduce fatigue and increase energy levels, even if a direct increase in performance has not yet been proven. Psychologist Friedhelm Nachreiner emphasizes that microbreaks should serve to prevent overtiredness.

Promoting a break culture in the workplace

In addition, the importance of workplace health promotion (WGF), which can improve the break culture, is emphasized. The important topics of the BGF include stress management, stress prevention as well as rest and relaxation in the workplace. Suggestions for improving break culture include setting up break areas with seating and creating quiet rooms for short power naps of no more than 10-15 minutes. Dr. However, Hanna Zieschang warns that longer naps can lead to deeper sleep phases and lead to fatigue. Gudrun Wagner also calls for a reassessment of the performance model, which is not just based on working hours.

Another concern concerns the overwhelming lack of legally required breaks. How dguv.de reports, more and more employees and managers are forgoing these breaks, which can lead to an increase in the risk of accidents. Studies show that breaks reduce the risk of accidents and that short breaks can even increase performance even though they shorten working hours. The most important finding is that physical and mental balance during breaks is crucial and daylight promotes alertness.