If you are envious or simply in awe of the people in your office who always seem to get their work done on time without appearing stressed, you can steal their most important secret to improve your own output and efficiency.
The secret, says an article published in The Muse, is to take effective breaks. By tracking their most productive employees, researchers at The Muse found that a combination of working for 52 minutes and then taking a 17 minute break generated the best results.
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The most productive workers don't even work a full eight hours, the researchers found. Their biggest secret is working smarter with frequent breaks. Productive employees work intensively during the 52 minute work period, and then rest — no email, no checking Facebook on your smartphone — during their break.
Man isn't equipped to work for hours sitting at a desk, say experts, and prolonged periods can decrease the ability to concentrate. Getting away from the work for a few minutes refocuses the mind and your attention span.
You can make the most of your breaks by taking a walk, chatting with a coworker, or slipping in a bit of exercise.
To read the article in its entirety in The Muse, go here.
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