Employees working in serviced offices and other office space should make taking breaks a priority, in order to reduce stress and become more productive, a stress expert has said.
Screen breaks, ‘switch off time’ and ‘brain breaks’ are essential for workers to maintain health, low stress levels and productivity, said stress doctor Terri Bodell.
She added: “Humans are not designed to work at full speed constantly for eight hours a day, every day without rest. The consequences of this is stress, burnout and eventually sickness and staff absence – all of which are costly to companies.”
An increase in mistakes and the possibility of stress-related illnesses were highlighted as possible problems occurring through not taking adequate breaks.
Ms Bodell advised that workers should take a 20 minute break in the morning and another in the afternoon, and a break of at least 30 minutes at lunchtime.
Recent research by Mentaline showed that 37 per cent of Britons are stressed because of ‘workplace problems’.
