If you have ever tried to work an eight-hour shift without taking a break or taking what was supposed to be a quick break that turned into wasting an hour on social media, you know that neither extreme is good for your productivity. Fortunately, there is a better solution. By downloading a productivity app for your Windows or Mac computer, you can time breaks when you need them and keep them to a reasonable length to help you get more accomplished.
What is a break timer?
Achieving the level of productivity you need can be challenging, especially if you are working from home and need to manage your own schedule. Spending a large portion of your day working on your computer gives you easy access to social media, YouTube, and a wide variety of other distractions, not to mention having nothing to keep you from stopping to get snacks or even simply staring off into space too often. You may have meant well when you wrote out your plan for the day that included hours or work with few to no scheduled breaks, but this move can actually significantly decrease your productivity.
Rather than simply taking a break when you feel like it, which will likely be far too often, using a break timer to schedule your breaks and keep them to a reasonable length can give you a better balance between getting the work you need to do done and giving your mind a break by regularly spending a few minutes on something you love throughout the day.
Why you should take regular breaks from your computer
Working for hours on end is actually counterproductive because your brain was not meant to focus constantly without periodic breaks. This means that trying to be more productive by cutting out any time that is not spent on work may cause you to be more distracted and less focused during your work time, which may actually lead to getting less done. By allowing yourself short breaks, approximately each hour or even half hour if possible, to check social media, walk around your office or yard, enjoy a snack, or play a couple of rounds of Candy Crush throughout the day, you can get your mind off of your work for a few minutes while knowing you will feel refreshed and motivated when you get right back to it.
Spending eight or more hours a day staring at your computer screen is also not the best for your health. Too much screen time can lead to eye strain, headaches, tendonitis, and other health concerns. Although work is, of course, considered a good type of screen time with benefits that significantly outweigh this risk that does not mean you should do so for hours on end without giving your eyes and hands frequent breaks.
How to time your breaks with Parallels Toolbox
Parallels Toolbox and other break time apps for Windows and Mac help you find the perfect balance between work time and break time. Taking a five-minute break every 25-30 minutes if your job allows you to do so is generally a good recommendation, but it is not difficult for that break to turn into another half hour on social media or playing games. Using a break timer lets you know when it's time to take a break and when it's time to get back to work to help you stick to a schedule that allows you to be as productive as possible.
Parallels Toolbox users can access the break timer by clicking on the Library tab within the app and navigating to Break Time in this menu. From here, you can set the frequency and duration of your breaks so that the app can help you stay on track. The app will then remind you when to take a break and when to get back to work, as well as let you know how much time you have left of your break and until your next break.
Conclusion
Our break time app is an excellent solution for both Windows and Mac users that are looking for ways to boost their productivity. Whether you're working from home or in the office, we can help you plan out your breaks so that they help you get more done in less time, rather than becoming a distraction. Download our app today to start managing your time more efficiently!