Nearly three quarters of the U.S. offices now have open office floor plans. The idea is to foster employee collaboration, align team processes, and even generate laughter and bonding. Sounds good in theory with no walls and barricades. But it’s a challenge dealing with sensory, cognitive overload.
Even if you are not in an open office floor plan, traditional office life and home life all have common distractions. Distractions cause errors. A study from University of California says, “it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back to a task.” The interruptions can add up throughout the day leaving you feeling frustrated and on-edge. Additionally, more experts are revealing how distractions have eroded our ability to concentrate. Our brains have evolved to pay attention to our surroundings because that was in our best interest for survival. It is also why everyone needs alone time.
Having time for yourself is not indulgence; it’s a necessity. The quietness allows you to refocus and center your brain and body. What if you can’t escape a noisy, over stimulating environment? Then you need to be creative by arriving an hour early, or have lunch outside the office to give yourself a breather. Perhaps resting in your parked car, or any other change of scenery such as walking to another building or going outside. Regardless of where, your brain needs a break.
Breaks are purposeful and deliberate. Break time redirects your attention away from the mundane and back to being alert. The constant fragmentation of your mind will lead to lower productivity, more stress, and a cycle of continuous partial attention. In the long term, the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol will create a physiological hyper-alert state that is always scanning for stimuli. In other words, you need a break to relax and refocus. Getting in your zone is crucial whether you are drawing up the plans, editing the digital content, finalizing the legal contract – all the details need your full breath, composure, and concentration.
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