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Ben Halpern
Ben Halpern

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What kind of breaks do you take throughout the work day?

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mortoray profile image
edA‑qa mort‑ora‑y

My primary break mechanism is run by a CD player. I've got 30-70 minute windows to get stuff done before it plays to the end and I must get up and replace the CD. (Sorry digital music, there's no such equivalent)

The breaks I do take:

  • stretching break (the normal one)
  • bike break (when I don't really feel like working anymore)
  • walking break (only if too sore/tired for bike break)
  • nap break (because I work from home and I can)
  • lunch/dinner break (can't be a workaholic without food)
  • twitter/reddit break (the brain can still do stuff on low-power)
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andy profile image
Andy Zhao (he/him)

the brain can still do stuff on low-power

Totally feel this way. I think if anything it's kind of helping me recharge when I run my mindless cycle of reddit/twitter/etc. There are definitely times where I need to close the laptop though. I'd like to say I have a decent balance :)

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rapidnerd profile image
George

I often forget how long I've been working and sitting down for which tends to be really bad, sometimes I'm sat down for 7-10 hours at a time. Most of the time I don't need to get up from my chair for food or drink because I've basically built a kitchen into my office. My breaks often include:

  • Falling over from being sat down for too long
  • Walking to the shops
  • When I do remember I often take long walks, especially when something is bugging me

  • Falling over the cat

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hdennen profile image
Harry Dennen

😂 I've been there... And since I can tell you're totally looking for unsolicited advice, I'll recommend having a look at this article from James Clear: jamesclear.com/environment-design-...

The gist is that the decisions you make are largely governed by the environment. Like for instance, putting a kitchen in your office creates a disincentive for break taking. Take care of yourself pal.

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Nicolas Hampton • Edited

I was quitting smoking at the same time I learned web development, but the 5 minute walks stuck. Usually it's whenever I get stuck on some problem I don't want to be in, like mocking a network request in a test. A good 5 minute 'intentional breathing' walk outside usually clears up the path forward, whatever I'm doing.

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jj profile image
Juan Julián Merelo Guervós

When I stay at home for working on non-academic stuff (as if there's such a thing), I go out to buy groceries and other supplies in the neighborhood and then I cook while I listen to some podcast. It's quite relaxing, and very nutritive.
Chili con carne for 5 people, with a full tupperware for the next day

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slacle profile image
Sebastian

Good and important question.

Breaks should not only be from doing work, but also from the computer and from sitting. I try to get up and stretch a bit at least once an hour. Can be hard in an office with other people, so I go to the kitchen, outside, or even bathroom.

Sitting for long periods of time non stop has many kinds of negative consequences which are not reversed even by eating healthy and excising. It's better to take a lot of little breaks and do small walks and little bit of stretching than to sit non stop for hours and then go to the gym for a hard work out at the end (or start) of the day.

If you sit at an office, you should watch this video
youtube.com/watch?v=GSO6g3dNR7s

Diana Ilithya - Health, mental health and what not | JSUnconf 2018 Lightning Talks
youtube.com/watch?v=kVZCfOLymtM

Ramon Huidobro - The importance of taking a break | JSUnconf 2018 Lightning Talks
youtube.com/watch?v=6T_6THrR5Qo

Sitting vs. Standing. Is Your Sedentary Life Killing You?
youtube.com/watch?v=N8tE6zSPJ7w

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Frank Carr

If the weather is good I'll play guitar at lunch out in the parking lot. I have a battery operated amp that I can use for this.

Other times, I'll read some forums and blogs, either on tech or guitars, and peruse Twitter for interesting stuff.

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alexiskold profile image
Alex Iskold 🗽

I don't really have much time for a break, but I switch between companies and businesses. Switching is actually, while seem super hard, makes it easier for me to get through the day. Kind of like changing activities. Another thing that I do is I make sure I walk to meetings if I can, this helps a lot. I also exercise first thing in am, to make sure I stay fresh.

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Adrian B.G.

I don't smoke (anymore) but I still do 5-10 min hourly breaks with my colleagues.

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ben profile image
Ben Halpern

I’ve never smoked cigarettes but three of my siblings do and I love tagging along on smoke breaks. A bit of fresh air is awesome.

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bgadrian profile image
Adrian B.G.

The main idea is to force myself, or remind me (when I see my colleagues going to get their drugs) that I need a brake.

Even if I don't go out with them on the balcony, I walk around, help other peers, play a game or make a cup of tea.

Another advantage is that I force myself to exit "the zone" and realize other stuff that I may overlooked or find a solution I couldn't otherwise (because I was too deep into it).

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tmcsquared profile image
TMcSquared

Stepping back and taking a fresh look at a problem is always a good idea. It doesn't apply just to programming either.

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jjjjcccjjf profile image
endan • Edited

<sarcasm>I'm pretty sure secondhand smoke is not fresh air...</sarcasm>

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Craig Butcher

Normally after a couple of hours after starting work in the morning, I go off to make a delicious flat white and peanut butter on sourdough toasts in the morning. It's my time that I need and a reminder to be kind to myself.

Other breaks is sitting in the private toilet and doing silent screaming...

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josegonz321 profile image
Jose Gonzalez
  • Bathroom breaks.
  • Interacting with people from other teams.
  • Tea breaks, time to prepare my tea.
  • Walks to the vending machines. They are a floor above. It’s quite a nice walk and mental break.
  • Lunch at atrium. Away from computer screen. Eat in peacefully and enjoying the lake view. If I have time, I continue reading the book I’m currently reading.
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Ross Henderson

My work requires that I take two 15 minute breaks and one 30 minute break for lunch. I generally grab my phone and sit either in our break area and chat to people, or I'll go to a quiet room and have a chat with some friends.

I would like to do more walking or something, but frankly the nature around us are hedges to block other warehouses aha.

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Raphael Jambalos

I often take "Facebook" breaks throughout the day. Although, I'm pretty sure this ain't the best use of my "break time". Sometimes reverting to some kind of mindless scrolling gives me a breather from all the logic I've been doing throughout the day. I also take short walks mid-day. How about you?

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ben profile image
Ben Halpern

I take pretty frequent "walk around the building and think" breaks as part of my workflow. I'm still working through the problem, but it's a bit of a break.

I'll sometimes take a break to browse /r/politics throughout the day. Right now our office has no couch area, which would be a better place to take a real break, but we'll maybe have something like that soon.

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cat profile image
Cat

~ 15-30mins

  • Walk around the building
  • If there is a free small meeting room, I take it over and nap.
  • Continue walk if there is no free room
  • Encounter food stops
  • If there is anything enticing, sit and eat
  • If not, continue walk until back at desk
  • Probably should drink water.

I bring both work and personal phones with me in case of an urgent ping. Other than that, I try not to look at any screens since I look at one for the majority of the day.

Or if it's like a really quick break, I'm here and on twitter. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

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Antonio Radovcic

Between 9 and lunch there's no longer break, really.
Between Lunch and 17:30 there's one ~15 Min. break for coffee and sweets.
(With a couple of shorter get-coffee-breaks and foosball-matches sprinkled throughout the day)

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Gunnar Gissel

I make sure to take a walk break or two, especially if I’ve been looking at something tricky and coming up dry

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ben profile image
Ben Halpern

Do you have any queues to do this? Timers or apps or anything? Or is it just a routine?

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Gunnar Gissel • Edited

I rely on a clock and habit :)