When life is moving at a fast pace, even a five-minute break can be hard to come by. If you are working on your computer for most of the day and decide to take a five-minute break, then the worst place to spend it is on your computer. Read our tips on how to make the most of your five minutes.
Fresh air
If you spend your whole day cooked up inside, then take your five minutes outside. It can often seem pointless. If you are in an office and need to take the elevator downstairs you could waste three minutes just getting outside, but it is still a good idea. A little fresh air and a change of perspective can lift your mood for the rest of the day. If you can, take a short walk around the block and make a rule not to think about whatever you have been working on. If you really can’t get outside, open a window and look outside for a while.
Close your eyes
While you won’t be able to get a power nap in just five minutes, closing your eyes and removing all the annoying stimuli that the world contains will be a great relief. Lie back in your chair with your eyes closed and total silence. If you can’t find silence you should consider some noise-canceling headphones to remove the distractions of the outside world. If you can’t find a place to escape, the toilet always works wonders.
Talk to someone
Sometimes our work, job focus and everything else can become very myopic. Stand up, get a glass of water and talk to someone about something completely unrelated. You may find that when you return to your desk, whatever issue you have been working on doesn’t seem so life-threatening anymore. Perspective is a powerful thing.
