This is #5 out of 25 Tips to Become More Productive and Happy at Work.

Take Breaks. It’s a fact that taking breaks will increase productivity. It’s been proven in studies. If you need to, find someone to help ensure you take a morning and afternoon break.

My favorite way to take a break is through a short nap, followed by a rich cup of coffee (although some researchers recommend that you drink coffee prior to napping, so that the caffeine will act as a natural alarm clock when it kicks in 20 minutes later).  In Japan, where workdays often  last 12 hours, naps are becoming a common tactic to maintain mental agility throughout the day.  Read more about their innovative nap salons here and here. I wish every public space has a safe, clean place to take naps.  Can you imagine how well rested and cheerful we would all be?

Another effective way to take a break at work is through “desk yoga.”  I always feel better at work, physically and mentally, when I take a few moments every now then to stretch out my cramped legs, strained back, and typing-weary fingers.

If you’re a guy, and you’re about to skip reading this section of the article because you think of yoga as a predominately female activity, wait just a second.  Read through these simple yoga-inspired stretches and seriously consider giving them a shot.  They are designed to increase alertness and release stress, and most people find that they really do work.  Read instructions for desk yoga here and here.

What kind of breaks do you take to stay contented and alert on the job?

-MJ

A bar of chocolate, a long soak in the bath, a snooze in the middle of the afternoon, a leisurely stroll in the park. These are the things that make us the most happy, according to new research from The University of Nottingham.

In a study commissioned by the National Lottery, Dr Richard Tunney of the University’s School of Psychology found that it’s the simple things in life that impact most positively on our sense of well being.

The study compared the ‘happiness levels’ of lottery jackpot winners with a control group, using a ‘Satisfaction with Life Scale’ developed by the University of Illinois. Respondents were asked how satisfied they were in relation to different elements of their life, their different mood states explored, how often they treated themselves and what form this took.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t the flashy cars and diamond jewellery that upped the jackpot winners’ happiness quotient. It was the listening to music, reading a book, or enjoying a bottle of wine with a takeaway that really made the difference.

Click here for the full article.