Time Away From Work Makes You Better

Guest Post by Jeff Craven

“If you get stuck, get away from your desk. Take a walk, take a bath, go to sleep, make a pie, draw, listen to ­music, meditate, exercise; whatever you do, don’t just stick there scowling at the problem.” ― Hilary Mantel

When we think about how to avoid unnecessary screen time, it’s easy to miss something that’s right in front of us almost every day: our work screens. At many companies, you will find at least one person who seems to work more than anyone else. They may even take pride in how much they work in comparison with others. 

At first glance, you might think that extra time means more things are getting done—but it turns out there’s an upper limit to burning the midnight oil. In fact, additional time in front of a work screen may be doing more harm than good. Research has shown overtime doesn’t necessarily translate to better outcomes for your company, and the diminishing returns of overtime hours have been known for many years¹. Overwork can also negatively impact your mental health², family life³, and make you more prone to illness and injury⁴.

Put simply, we all need a break every once in a while. Regardless of where you work or what you do for a living, the research is clear on the benefits of taking a break, even for a few minutes. It’s good for you and it’s good for your output. The simple act of going for a walk can boost creative thinking⁵. You’ve probably been told to sleep on a tough problem, and research shows that, yes, getting a good night’s rest can improve our problem-solving skills as well⁶. When you can, it pays to step away and come back to work relaxed and with a fresh perspective.

Short breaks are good, but we also need longer periods of time away from work. While workers in the US take smaller stints of time off, Europeans are famous for taking summer-long vacations where they go no contact with the working world⁷. Here, the research shows the replenishing effects of vacation are good for the person unplugging and don’t result in lower productivity. Annual vacations are good for your heart⁸, good for your mental health⁹, and good for your company’s bottom line¹⁰.

Action: The next time you’re trying to sort through a problem, the most effective way to work through it might just be to get up and walk away. Try going for a walk if you find yourself in a situation where you would normally sit and grapple with an issue. And if you can, take time to unplug for an extended period of time. Your brain, your body, and your boss will thank you.

Further Reading:

1. SCHEDULED OVERTIME EFFECT ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
2. Hour-glass ceilings: Work-hour thresholds, gendered health inequities
3. Parent’s Long Work Hours and the Impact on Family Life
4. The Effects of Working Time on Productivity and Firm Performance, Research Synthesis Paper
5. Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking
6. Have a vexing problem? Sleep on it.
7. Vacation can make you more productive — just ask the Europeans
8. Are Vacations Good for Your Health? The 9-Year Mortality Experience After the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial
9. Vacations improve mental health among rural women: the Wisconsin Rural Women’s Health Study
10. How Taking a Vacation Improves Your Well-Being

Guest post: Jeff Craven is a freelance writer and the founder of Because Media Group, a media company that creates purpose-based content for businesses. Follow him on social media here and sign up for his newsletter here.