True or false—in a normal eight-hour workday, workforces are productive for around 2 hours and 53 minutes on average.
If you guessed true, you’re likely well aware of the burnout and fatigue currently plaguing your workforce. If you said false, you may not realize how often your workforce needs to take brief breathers to recharge.
Many employers believe that letting employees take microbreaks hurts productivity and creates distractions, but corporate research has been painting a different picture. Recent studies reveal that well-planned microbreaks can boost focus and productivity by 13%, cut mental fatigue in half, and spark untapped creativity.
But the truth is, these quick work breaks do more than refresh your employees’ minds—they ease physical strain, provide momentary periods of rest, and make people happier at work. Over time, the benefits of microbreaks build for both employees and employers, leading to stronger productivity, company culture, and retention.
Let’s take a closer look at the myths surrounding microbreaks and how they can be a seamless addition to your workplace wellness program.
Do Microbreaks Actually Help?
No matter where you work—in an office, at a worksite, or from your living room couch—the reality remains that microbreaks happen naturally during the day, whatever your company's rules say.
Employees take these quick breaks on their own, and studies are showing significant positive effects on their energy and how well they work.
A study from the National Library of Medicine confirms that regardless of industry, taking structured microbreaks during the work day leads to:
- 35% increase in energy levels
- 34% drop in fatigue
- 22% surge in overall performance quality
But on top of the ample research to back them up, it’s not hard to see how microbreaks help workers navigate demanding work environments. As companies experience more activity and work ramps up, microbreaks serve as a way to mentally separate, reenergize the brain, and return to projects with a clearer focus.
What this gives employers is a golden opportunity to reset burned-out workforces without hindering productivity or trust. By weaving microbreaks into natural work rhythms, employees receive much-needed mental pauses, while companies enjoy more focused and rested workforces.
Building a Microbreak-Positive Culture with Your Wellness Program
Weaving microbreaks into an employee wellness program is easier than taking a microbreak itself, since they already act as daily wellness challenges on their own.
By attaching microbreaks to existing company wellness goals, allowing individuals to track microbreaks for incentives (while protecting data), and encouraging group microbreaks, employers can seamlessly integrate holistic wellness into daily workflows.
Baking Microbreaks into Wellness Challenges
Microbreaks serve as informal wellness challenges by calling individuals to pause and reflect on their own wellbeing.
The only problem? Your employees think they have to take them in secret.
The truth is, adding microbreaks to your existing wellness initiatives won’t change your program at all—in fact, they’ll enhance participation and foster engagement. Encouraging individuals to not only take microbreaks but track them for employer-sponsored rewards demonstrates organizational commitment to wellbeing, sharpening productivity, curbing burnout, and building genuine trust.
💡Pro Tip: Many individuals worry that publicizing microbreaks could bring their performance into question, which could discourage participation. To solidify trust and your organizational commitment to wellbeing, reassure employees that microbreak tracking data is not accessible by managers or supervisors, and therefore has no weight on their work performance.
Incentives for Microbreaks
The only thing missing from the art of taking microbreaks? Rewards for taking them.
Many companies balk at the idea of incentivizing individuals for taking daily work pauses, but given the short-term benefits (i.e. better mental clarity) and long-term outcomes (i.e. enhanced productivity and reduced turnover), the investment is worth the break. And when individuals have access to a rewards mall where they can choose their prize, wellness program engagement soars.
Group Microbreaks
Solo microbreaks are invaluable in the mental, physical, and emotional benefits they provide to individuals. But giving workforces the freedom to break with their coworkers not only encourages them to take brain breaks—it also fosters social connection.
Group activities have been proven to build stronger team bonds while tackling common workplace health issues like burnout. As such, group microbreaks provide invaluable mental clarity while also forging natural friendships.
Invest in Microbreaks for Macro Results
Microbreaks have proven to be a game-changer when it comes to workplace wellness. Teams that adopt microbreaks through planned activities not only see clear improvements in employee wellbeing and job satisfaction, but also burnout, engagement, team camaraderie, and productivity.
Interested in adding microbreak challenges to your existing wellness program? Find out whether your platform can support microbreak tracking by reaching out to our experts today.
