When we work for ourselves, it is vital to be motivated.   It takes hard work and perseverance to get a business running and keep it going.  But it’s important not to forget that we still need a break every now and then.  It’s actually more important to remember you need a break because you don’t have the commute and can easily sit and work for hours on end.

Sometimes long hours are a necessity.  That’s a given whenever we want a project to be a success.  But if we don’t take breaks, it’s easy to get burned out.  Our brains don’t work as well, and rather than helping our business by working hard, we can actually harm it.

How Often Do I Need a Break?

If we work for someone else, we generally get a break every two hours.  That’s a good rule of thumb.  Sometimes we may not get a break quite that often, but if we go for several hours without a break, it can start affecting the quality of our work.

One of the perks of being self-employed is that we don’t have to stick to a strict break schedule.  If we come to a stopping point, we can go ahead and take a break even if it’s not time yet.  If we have appointments or important errands to run, we can adjust our breaks accordingly.  But it’s important to make sure that we don’t work too long of a stretch without taking a break.  If you don’t feel that you can stick to taking breaks, then set a timer.

If you’re working on a difficult project and begin to get tired or frustrated, a break could be just what the doctor ordered.  A break doesn’t have to be particularly long to be effective.  Five minutes out of the office could be all you need to feel as good as new.

How Can I Get the Most Out of My Break?

If you are about to blow a gasket, sitting silently during your break may only make things worse.  Getting your mind off of what’s bothering you for a few minutes will be more beneficial.   Here are some ways you can do that:

* Taking a brisk walk can help you blow off steam and clear your head while you get fresh air. If the weather is frequently yucky, then consider searching for treadmills.
* Reading a chapter from a favorite book or an article from a magazine that interests you can renew your focus.
* If you are a crafter, you could work on your latest project for a few minutes. Have your craft project put together ahead of time so you can pull it out and work on it quickly.
* If you’re hopelessly swamped with work and don’t feel that you have time for a break, you could at least switch to a less stressful activity for a short time. Research a project or hit some forums for a change of pace.
* If all else fails, play a game on your cell phone or the Internet. Just don’t get so wrapped up in it that you forget to get back to work. I personally love to jump into a quick game of tetris. lol

Breaks are important because they allow us to recharge our batteries so that we can be more productive.  Taking them at regular intervals can help us avoid burnout.  When we are stressed out, a short break can improve our outlook and allow us to see things more clearly.

This was posted by Val on December 11th, 2007. You can find more information like this in Motivation.