Taking five-minute ‘brain breaks’ can increase task productivity by more than 50 percent, study finds
- In an experiment, 72 students underwent self-taught lessons and mental math tests
- Those who took a five-minute break between tasks scored 57% higher on average
A five-minute “brainbreak” can increase performance and productivity on subsequent tasks by more than 50 percent, according to a study.
In the University of Sydney experiment, 72 students took a self-taught lesson and two grueling mental math tests.
Those who were given a five-minute break between tasks scored on average 57 percent higher — when other skill factors were taken into account — in the second test than those who continued without stopping.
Some of the “rested” students took unstructured breaks while others were asked to watch a relaxing nature video, but both groups outperformed their unrested peers in the second challenge.
Associate professor of educational psychology Paul Ginns said the “substantial” improvements gained from taking an attention-restoring “brain break” could be applied in the office environment as well as in the classroom.
In the University of Sydney experiment, 72 students took a self-taught lesson and two grueling mental math tests. Those given a five-minute break between tasks scored an average of 57 percent higher — when other skill factors were taken into account — in the second test than those who continued without stopping
“Although this study was done on college students, I’m pretty sure these results can be applied to younger people and older people,” he said.
Resting isn’t just about cognitive function, it’s also about recharging your emotional batteries. This is advice we give to children.
“It’s an easy productivity hack that’s accessible to everyone.”
He said the study provided evidence for the effectiveness of the Pomodoro technique, which advocates taking a five-minute break after every 25 minutes of concentrated work.