3 Better Alternatives to Working at Your Desk for 8 Hours in a Row (Because That's Just Wrong)

Updated 6/19/2020

Working 9 to 5 isn't productive. Here are three ways to take breaks (and boost productivity).

It’s an hour before lunch (or two hours before you can clock out), and you desperately want to take a break. You want to go for a walk, grab a cup of coffee, even check your Facebook or Twitter feed—something to shut your brain off for a little bit.

Regardless of what your gossipy colleague thinks, you’re not rebelling against your work. In fact, your natural inclination to take a break could optimize your productivity. As this infographic from our friends at Business Insider reminds us, working an eight-hour day is totally outdated. It would make a lot more sense to visualize the workday in shorter spans of time—with built-in breaks.

So the next time you want a 15-minute break from email, take it. You just may have a much more productive rest of your day.

Infographic courtesy of Business Insider Australia. Photo of happy man courtesy of Shutterstock.

Sara McCord runs a values-driven marketing firm that helps thought leaders go viral for their expertise. She creates visibility for brands, recently creating an 8-second video for a client that got 50 Million organic views on Instagram in one week. She’s worked with influencers and celebrities, boutique brands and small businesses, as well as large corporations. It’s extra sweet for her to be writing again for The Muse, where she launched her career in editorial. As a contributor, then columnist, then Staff Writer/Editor, Sara penned more than 200 articles for The Muse beginning in 2011, which led to a regular contributor role at Mashable; Business Insider bylines; and syndicated pieces on Forbes, Inc., Fast, Company, and more. For trending marketing news and best practices, follow her on TikTok.