Relegating the Routine

I love working from home, but this is one area I’ve found challenging. When you’re working in an office environment, there's more encouragement to take a lunch break. Whether nipping out on errands or a social catch-up with colleagues, it's just part of the daily routine. 

When I was office-based, I used to go for regular lunchtime walks with a couple of workmates. If one of us tried to cop out, we were always geed up by the others. When home working alone, it’s easy to demote breaks to bolting down a hastily prepared sandwich while you work through emails or plan your next task.

There could be many reasons for this. Perhaps we feel a kind of working from home productivity guilt. It could be a lack of influencing work chums, or even that it just seems a waste of time. Irrespective of the cause, regular breaks are good for our wellbeing and productivity. Here are some approaches for taking timeouts in your day:   

Revive the Traditional Tea (or Coffee) Break

The old-style British tea break has its roots amid the Industrial Revolution as a way to enhance the productivity of flagging workers during the day. It’s not so formally practised now, but why not bring it back?

Incorporate a mid-morning and/or mid-afternoon break for around ten minutes into your schedule. Try not to make a coffee and just bring it back to your desk. Use the time to stop and enjoy your cuppa away from your screen. Get some fresh air, or take a few moments to clear your head. As a bonus, if you want to take control of your caffeine intake, allocating these time slots may also help to restrict the amount you’re consuming. 

These breaks are a convenient way of transitioning from one task to another. Alternatively, if you’ve been avoiding a challenging project, the promise of an upcoming breather as a reward can boost motivation. Delayed gratification can be an incentivising tool. 

Take a Hike

Well, perhaps more of a lunchtime stroll than a hike! If you're stuck on a problem, a change of environment enables some perspective. It can boost creativity and spark ideas. Even if you're not seeking inspiration, taking time outside allows a respite during a busy day. 

Power Gardening

If you have a garden, you’re probably involved in a continuous battle with weeding or deadheading over the spring and summer months. Why not take a few minutes of your day to target an area of your garden with a quick deadhead or weeding stint? Not only does it help get a chore done, but it’s also a chance to connect with nature and admire the progress of your plants.

Catch Up With a Friend

Working from home full-time can be a lonely business, particularly if you’re a freelancer without colleagues to bounce off. If you have other home-based friends, why not try arranging a catch-up call every week or two? Checking in with each other can make homeworking feel less isolating. 

Scheduling a call with a friend might seem too formal, but it has advantages. We all have our own work schedules and deadlines, so spontaneous calls within working hours might not always be convenient. By putting it in the diary as you would a business meeting, you block out the time and arrange your timetable accordingly.

Direct Your Mind Elsewhere

What do you like to do? Do you have any hobbies? Whether it’s yoga, reading, crocheting or crosswords, use your break to focus on an activity you enjoy. Whatever it is, let your attention be directed towards something other than work for a short time during your day. It will make such a difference to your concentration levels.

Give Yourself a Break

Don’t feel guilty about taking breaks. You are entitled to a break if you work more than six hours a day. They play an integral part in maintaining our energy levels. Equally, it’s worth recognising that sometimes we just have to get stuck in to get things done. It’s about flexibility and releasing pressure, not putting more on yourself.

Now go pop the kettle on. Mine’s milk and two sugars, please!