Take a Break: Dissociation from Work

Aug 20

By Dr. Faisal Alzahrani and Nadja Conaghan

Strip off with dignity…

Before you get excited, I’m talking about stripping yourself of your job when you take a break. Actually, maybe you should get excited! Because this might help you boost your performance on a daily basis and make whatever you do more enjoyable.

Breaks are essential for those who work long hours outside or inside home. They enable us to refuel and de-stress in order to continue our job and focus better on the current or next task. Commonly, they are often referred to as lunch, dinner or coffee breaks, and they typically range from 20 to 60 minutes. During this time and in most cases, people choose to remain in their work environment either physically or mentally. Some tend to gather with colleagues at work and share a meal while discussing work-related matters, whereas others prefer to enjoy a solitary time while subconsciously reflecting on the first half of their shift or planning how to tackle the next half of it. Regardless of what people choose to do, the common theme is the tendency to allow work to interfere with their downtime.

Logically, staying in work environment either physically or mentally is likely to induce the sense of work continuation and give the false impression of prolonged work hours. Therefore, stress levels are likely to rise and concentration is likely to drop, both of which will ultimately reduce productivity. On the other hand, dissociation from work during breaks helps refreshing and resetting the mind, which reduces stress levels and improves concentration, hence productivity will increase. Accordingly, the way you spend your time while on a break can make the difference in your mentality and productivity. In support to that, published articles continue to show that people who stay in the work environment during their break generally tend to be demotivated and less productive when returning to work. In comparison, those who dissociate or strip themselves of work while on breaks are more likely to be de-stressed, refreshed and more productive.

Dissociating yourself from your job while on a break is simple and affordable. Physical dissociation can be achieved by simply removing yourself from the work environment. Leave the office or working floor temporarily! Go out for a walk or sit outside and connect with nature! No matter how limited your options are, there is always a place you can resort to either in the same building or somewhere nearby. However, physically removing yourself from work environment only fixes half the problem. Mental dissociation is just as important. It is even simpler and more affordable! All you have to do is stop thinking about work when you take a break! Good or bad, there will be enough time for you to reflect on how your day is going. Also, do not spend your break planning the rest of your shift! Even though it may sound wise and productive to do so, it is likely to raise work-related issues and stress you even more. Thus, you are more likely to be less energetic and maybe even too tired to take advantage of your productive planning.

In the end, your mood and productivity at work will be dependant on many factors, one of which is how you spend your downtime. Regardless of what you choose to do, the more you strip yourself of your work while on a break, the more energetic and productive you will be when returning to it. In other words, move away from work and stop thinking about it! Your options are unlimited and I have mentioned a few, but I’m sure you can come up with much more to do.

Be honest…

…does that sound like you? You have been guilty of not having real breaks and not being able to switch off when youI are not at work. You have lunch at your desk and are checking emails and keep working through your break. On the way to and from work you are busy with thinking about and doing some work. The result, you feel very exhausted and foggy at the end of the day. Is that you? There are times, when you need to work more hours or have shorter lunch breaks. But if this becomes a habit, you pay a high price for this - with your productivity and effectiveness, wellbeing and (mental and physical) health. By law, your employer has to ensure you take breaks and that for a good reason. So it is up to you to make your break a real break - and dissociate yourself from work to reset and refresh.