A small break in the working day: make it your own

A break need not be another achievement squeezed between two tasks. If you have the opportunity to take a short pause, you can choose how to spend it in advance. Or leave it without a plan for a while.

Look at your actual working routine

Desk work, shifts and client-facing work offer different possibilities. Before borrowing an idea from someone's video, check when and how a break can fit into your day. This article does not define employment entitlements or statutory breaks.

Start with one available place: a chair away from your desk, a quieter corner or a brief step away from the screen if your work allows it. It need not look like a wellness space.

Choose what to put aside for a moment

You might want to stop reading work messages, finish eating in peace or have a few minutes without conversation. Be specific: “For this moment, I will not start another task.”

If you need to remain available, include that in your plan. A break while on call can look different from time without responsibilities. You do not have to compare yourself with someone whose working conditions are different.

Prepare one ordinary option

Choose a drink, a view from the window, some reading unrelated to work or a moment of quiet. These are options to suit your preference, not treatments for stress.

Keep preparation simple: put a book in your bag or a cup within reach. Do not make the same ritual compulsory for every break. Sometimes you may just want to sit.

Set a boundary around conversation

If you spend your break with colleagues, say what you would like: “I would like a little time away from work topics.” Or: “I would enjoy a chat, but I will return to that task afterwards.”

Respect a colleague's wish for quiet too. A break need not be compulsory social time. If you need to arrange cover, do so in advance within your workplace's practical limits.

Make the return simple

Before pausing, write down the specific step you want to return to. One sentence, without more planning. This is an organisational suggestion, not a promise of better performance.

After a few days, notice whether your choice suits you. Keep it, change it or drop it. Your choice within a working day can be small and ordinary. More topics are on the AboutHer blog.

Source and editorial approach

Inspired by AboutHer's post about a colleague and time for herself, with a detail-page publication date of 7 March 2026; checked on 29 September 2026. We do not infer a colleague's performance or mental state from her appearance, or repeat claims about intimate rituals. This is an original organisational suggestion.