Here's What Science Says About Taking Breaks. (It's Pretty Amazing)

Let's be real: Our human brains aren't built for the kind of stamina and focus that we ask of it these days. We're multitasking and working longer hours, so it's no wonder that at times we can feel uninspired, overly stressed, and burned out. None of this bodes well for our productivity, never mind our own mental health.

But there's a simple fix—in fact, it's so simple that we tend to overlook it. Breaks, pauses, brief interruptions in our work are, according to science1, a much-needed thing. The expression "work smarter, not harder" is actually backed by research, and one of the easiest ways to do it is to step away for a few minutes. Even 90 percent of managers believe that taking regular breaks during the day can make employees happier and work more efficiently.