7 Ideas to Help You Make the Most of Your Breaks
Whether it’s two weeks in a Tuscan villa or a blustery weekend in Bournemouth, there’s no doubting the power of a holiday to help you reset and restore. But in the reality of busy working days and full family lives, the chance to recharge rarely arrives in long, uninterrupted stretches.
Instead, it shows up in small pockets: a tea break between tasks, a few minutes of fresh air, or a sit down on the sofa once the house is still.
And it’s worth paying attention to these smaller moments. Short, everyday breaks can play an important role in helping us recharge. Used well, these pauses – whether it’s ten minutes during a shift or a quiet pause in the evening – can help steady your day and support how you feel, both at work and at home.
Why does making time to switch off matter?
There’s good reason to take switching off seriously. Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive highlights that rest and recovery are essential for both health and safety, especially when work is demanding or irregular. And for those working shifts, fatigue can build gradually if breaks aren’t used well, affecting everything from mood to focus*.
Here are seven achievable ways to help you make the most of yours…
- Start with what you need most
Not every break needs to look the same. Sometimes you’ll need to rest. Other times, you might crave connection or a small sense of achievement to help restore your energy levels.
Before you reach for your phone, pause and ask: “What would help me right now?”
- Feeling tired? Prioritise rest or some quiet time
- Feeling overwhelmed? Try a calming activity
- Feeling disconnected? Send a quick message to someone you trust
Recognising your needs will help make your break work for you, rather than letting it slip by unnoticed.
- Treat break time as self-care
It’s easy to feel that a short break isn’t ‘worth it’, especially when there’s still so much to do. But breaks are an important part of maintaining health and wellbeing, not an optional extra.
In practice, that might mean stepping away from your workspace if you can, avoiding ‘just one more task’, and treating even 10–20 minutes as valuable time. Just a few minutes can reduce feelings of overwhelm and improve focus, and the benefits add up over time.
- Use movement to reset your energy
If you’ve been on your feet all day, rest can feel like the only option. But gentle movement, even briefly, can help refresh both body and mind.
You might try:
- a short walk outside
- stretching your shoulders or back
- taking the stairs to the canteen instead of the lift
These small resets can support circulation and help you feel more alert, especially during longer shifts or late evenings.
- Step away from the scroll
It’s completely normal to reach for your phone during a break, especially if you need to check in on children. But, once your phone is in your hand, you can soon find yourself scrolling, which can leave you feeling more tired than before, rather than refreshed.
If you can, balance screen time with some genuine rest, such as sitting quietly with a hot drink, listening to music or a podcast, or simply closing your eyes for a few minutes.
- Do one small thing that’s just for you
Breaks don’t always need to be ‘productive’, but a small, positive action can lift your mood.
Think simple and realistic:
- reading a few pages of a book
- doing a quick puzzle
- writing a short note or list to ease the load later
These tiny moments of choice can help you feel more in control of your time, especially when the rest of your day is structured around others’ needs.
- Keep connected
Shift work or busy routines can sometimes make family connection feel harder. Breaks can offer a bridge back. You might use your break to send a voice note to your child or partner, or to check in on a group chat. Or you could even take the time to look back at some favourite photos, which can help you feel more connected and remind you that you’re not doing the day alone.
- Refuel in a way that supports you
Eating on the go is often part of busy working life, but how and when you eat can affect how you feel for the rest of your shift or evening.
Where possible:
- take your time, even if it’s brief
- include foods that give steady energy
- stay hydrated alongside meals
It isn’t about obsessive balance but making small choices that help you avoid energy dips later on.
The power of the pause
Whether at work or at home, a good break offers a genuine pause from daily demands. It matches what you need in that moment, and leaves you feeling just a little more able to pick tasks back up and continue.
For shift workers in particular, this can be especially important; fatigue builds over time when rest opportunities are limited, making recovery periods even more valuable.
While every routine looks different, one thing remains the same: looking after yourself, even in small ways, helps you to keep showing up in the ways that matter most.