take a break
What exactly does it mean to take a break and recharge? For some, it’s a 20-second pause to look out the window, for others, it’s a 20-minute walk at Lunch. For a unique few- it can mean a full hour of meditation at the end of a workday. Whatever it means to you, it’s important that a little downtime (or up-time!) becomes part of your daily work routine.
Join the 10 Minute Morning Stretch Break!
Stretch breaks are a short, fun, and easy way to get up from your desk and bring a little movement into your day. The ten-minute stretch breaks, led by your fellow Berkeley Lab colleagues, feature simple and accessible stretches and a great community of like-minded employees.
Days: Monday, Wednesday & Friday
Time: 9:15 - 9:25 am
Add the breaks to your calendar
Stretch Break Leaders Needed
Morning stretch breaks are community led, by employees just like you, and we need volunteers to keep the program going. If you would like to join the leading team, but are not sure where to start we're happy to provide resources, suggestions and coaching to help you put together 10 minutes of easy, accessible stretches.
Sign up to lead a stretch break on the scheduling spreadsheet.
Please contact Ashley Dawn (ashleydawn@lbl.gov) if you have any questions.
Whether reminded on the computer by RSIGuard (available to download at software.lbl.gov) or by your watch or phone alarm, or by life’s other fun interruptions (the child, the dog, the co-worker…) take those breaks when you can get them!
How much is enough? Here’s a handy way to remember...
Changing your position while working can be a recharge for your body.
Remember, the “Best Position is the Next Position”!
Sitting? Stand!
Leaning forward? Lean back!
They're all good for you to do!
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management system that encourages people to work with the time they have—rather than against it. Using this method, you break your workday into 25-minute chunks separated by five-minute breaks. These intervals are referred to as pomodoros. After about four pomodoros, you take a longer break of about 15 to 20 minutes.
Not all breaks are created EQUAL.
Check out This Research from ScienceDirect about what types of breaks work best!
Here’s some info taken straight from our Ergo Website! Feel free to share this One Minute For Safety with your friends and colleagues.
UC Berkeley's Be Well at Work program has compiled a series of suggestions for taking breaks. Taking activity breaks during your day is an excellent way to keep your focus, prevent fatigue, and relieve body stiffness. The Be Well at Work Wellness Program provides several types of activity breaks to fit into your workday and to integrate into healthy meetings: breathing and relaxation, recess, stretch breaks, walk breaks and silly breaks to cheer you up. Try this: https://youtu.be/QHkXvPq2pQE