Taking a healthy break.
The ideal break is individual.
The optimal break from work functions to counterbalance an often one-sided workload:
- Those who do physical work will need a break to relax and recharge their batteries
- Those who work with their heads need an active break with physical activity
- Those who are in contact with people all day will enjoy peace and quiet and time to themselves during a break
- If work tends to be done in isolation in front of a screen, social interaction is ideal
A good break allows employees to switch from exertion to relaxation, activity to inactivity, concentration to mental downtime – all depending on what they currently need.
As most work is done indoors, breaks spent in the company’s own outdoor areas double the efficacy. This is because decisive factors are found outside that have a big influence on our well-being.
This is the effect that a break in the fresh air has on the body and mind.
Oxygen for the cells
This fuel for our vitality can be found in abundance in the fresh air. Its effect cannot be overestimated – it revitalises every cell, boosts the production of endorphins and wards off fatigue. In short: oxygen makes you smart, capable and happy.
Room to move
Light activity in the open air gets the circulation going. The organs, including the brain, benefit from a better blood supply and start working in sync. What’s more, the mind’s agility increases at the same time as the body’s.
Daylight for a healthy sleep-wake cycle
Exposure to daylight is essential for many physical processes. The amount of light around us determines whether we are alert or tired, for example. When we take a break and spend it outdoors, our body clock can readjust correctly and small bouts of midday sleepiness disappear immediately.
The natural environment for switching off mentally
Green plants, bright flowers and birdsong help us to take our minds off things, provide fresh inspiration, lift our mood and help us regenerate faster. We don’t have to wait long for the odd flash of inspiration or two once we’re outside.
Tips and inspiration for breaks the open air.
An attractively designed open space is the best prerequisite for relaxing breaks. Nothing motivates your employees more to go outside to exercise or relax. Yet there’s even more you can do to motivate your employees to take a break from work in the fresh air. Get the most out of your outdoor area with our ideas. Let us inspire you!
Provide a “canteen on wheels”
Most employees want one thing above all else during their break: something to eat. By providing a “canteen on wheels” in your outdoor area, you can kill three birds with one stone:
- You entice your employees out of the building and into the open air
- You allow them to have a quick lunch or a snack
- You promote discussions about work in a relaxed atmosphere
Of course, it doesn’t actually have to be a large food truck. Smaller options that are only available according to which day of the week it is will also delight your employees. How about a coffee trolley or a salad bar? This way, by adding a few bistro tables, you can create a new place for the whole company to meet in no time at all.
Introduce breaks for guided relaxation
Lie down and stretch out on a bench during working hours, close your eyes and listen to the birds? Even if they desperately need a short break like this, very few employees would allow themselves to take one. The desire to be seen as fit and able to take the pressure, or their own inner restlessness, is a mental obstacle for many.
Experience has shown that this is why organised relaxation activities can be very popular. Outdoor areas are ideal for this:
- Guided meditation on a blanket on the lawn
- Qigong in the courtyard
- Autogenic training on the balcony
- Mindfulness exercises in the garden
The benefits are obvious: the “top dogs” officially encourage relaxation and it’s available at a minimal distance to or from the workplace. With expert guidance, even highly stressed employees will manage to find some inner peace.
Encourage short breaks
Taking one or two longer breaks over the course of the working day is important. However, there is evidence that short breaks are even more efficient. The 5-minute break once an hour has proved to be particularly effective. If you set things aside, especially in intensive work phases, take a short break and take a few deep breaths, you’ll effectively prevent fatigue.
The more stressful the day, the more necessary a short break becomes. What’s also clear is that this is easy to forget when people are pressed for time. Give your employees a helping hand! An automated reminder that there’s a green paradise awaiting them just outside the office door works wonders. A reminder to take a break can, for example, be programmed to appear on displays once an hour using special software.
Organise company sports classes
Create an incentive for physical activity in your outdoor area by holding one or two sports classes every week. After all, exercise is a lot more fun when done together!
- Types of sport that don’t require much equipment are ideal for this, such as yoga, Pilates or exercises to increase strength using your own body weight.
- Many employees have untapped talent, and are happy to do something for their colleagues. Just ask around in the company if anyone is interested in holding a class.
- You’ll send a signal that encourages a company culture of activity when your employees can enjoy the classes, in whole or in part, during working hours
- If classes are held before or during the working day, shower facilities should be available
Provide games and sports equipment
In addition to scheduled outdoor activities, you can integrate all sorts of other games and sports equipment into your outdoor area. This will make your outdoor area even more attractive, as well as more interesting and animated. Depending on the size and its characteristics, there are a number of options:
- Table tennis table
- Table football or a goal wall
- Pull-up bars
- Barefoot walk
- Fitness trail
Active games bring colleagues together and have a particularly regenerative effect: a short match of table tennis after an intensive meeting revitalises and provides fresh energy for the last few hours of work.
Don’t forget: as a manager, it’s important that you set a good example. You’re the one who can establish a company culture that encourages employees to pay attention to their needs – including their need to take a break.
Contact us!
We are available to answer any further questions you might have.