Taking Proper Breaks: Why Stepping Away Helps You Perform at Your Best

Health and social care is fast-paced, demanding and often unpredictable. Many professionals spend entire shifts moving from one task to the next, responding to changing priorities and putting the needs of others first.

In busy environments, breaks can sometimes feel like a luxury rather than a necessity. Some people shorten their lunch break, eat while working or skip breaks altogether because they feel there is simply too much to do.

However, taking regular breaks is not a sign of reduced commitment, it is an important part of maintaining health, wellbeing and safe, effective care.

Why Breaks Matter

Every shift places demands on both the mind and body. Whether you are providing direct care, making important clinical decisions, supporting families or managing services, periods of sustained concentration require energy. Without opportunities to pause and recover, fatigue can build throughout the day. Over time, this may affect concentration, decision-making, communication and overall wellbeing.

Even short breaks can help restore focus and improve productivity when returning to work.

The Benefits of Taking a Break

Regular breaks can help to:

• Reduce mental and physical fatigue.
• Improve concentration and decision-making.
• Lower stress levels.
• Support emotional wellbeing.
• Increase productivity and focus.
• Help prevent burnout over time.

Looking after your own wellbeing also helps you provide the best possible care to others.

What Makes a Good Break?

A break is most effective when it allows you to step away—physically and mentally—from your work. Where possible, try to:

• Leave your immediate work area.
• Eat and drink without rushing.
• Stretch or go for a short walk.
• Spend a few minutes outdoors if possible.
• Chat with colleagues about something other than work.
• Avoid using the time to catch up on emails or paperwork.

Even ten or fifteen minutes away from your usual environment can help reset your energy.

Small Breaks Throughout the Day

Not every shift allows for long uninterrupted breaks, particularly during busy periods. However, brief moments of recovery can still make a difference. Taking a few slow breaths between appointments, stretching after sitting for long periods, drinking a glass of water or simply looking away from a computer screen for a minute can all help reduce mental fatigue.

These small pauses add up over the course of the day.

Supporting a Healthy Workplace

Creating a workplace where people feel able to take their entitled breaks benefits everyone. Managers and team leaders play an important role by encouraging staff to take breaks, planning workloads appropriately and recognising that rest contributes to both wellbeing and patient safety.

Supporting colleagues to take their break today often means someone will support you tomorrow.

Books Worth Reading

If you’d like to explore the science behind rest and recovery, these books provide practical insights.

• Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less explores how deliberate rest improves creativity, productivity and performance.
• The Power of Full Engagement explains why managing energy, rather than simply managing time, is key to sustained performance.
• Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle examines the impact of chronic stress and the importance of recovery.

Podcasts to Explore

If you’re looking for practical advice on maintaining energy and avoiding burnout, these podcasts are excellent places to start.

• Feel Better, Live More regularly covers topics including stress, recovery, sleep and sustainable wellbeing.
• The Happiness Lab explores the science behind healthier habits and overall wellbeing.
• The Diary of a CEO features discussions with health experts, psychologists and performance specialists on maintaining wellbeing in demanding careers.

Rest Is Part of Professional Practice

Health and social care professionals spend every day supporting the wellbeing of others. To continue doing that safely and compassionately, it is essential to look after your own health too.

Taking a proper break is not time lost. It is time invested in maintaining your concentration, protecting your wellbeing and ensuring you have the energy to continue delivering high-quality care.

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do during a busy day is simply step away, take a breath and give yourself permission to recharge.

Stay Connected with The Daily Round

This article is part of our Everyday Wellbeing series, created to support the people who dedicate their careers to caring for others.

Over the coming months, we’ll be expanding our Lifestyle section with practical advice, expert insights, book and podcast recommendations, money-saving ideas, travel inspiration, health features and everyday wellbeing content designed specifically for those working across health and social care.

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