Take a Break : SOHO Sanity

An old fashioned egg timer is the handiest tool I have on my desk.

An oven timer, which you wind to the desired time, will do the same job and features a bell or buzz when the time runs out.

Set your tasks out for the day and break up your work into chunks interspersed with 10 minute breaks. Most days I set my timer to 40 minutes and this allows me to take a 20 minute break every hour.

On the hour, stand up from your computer, move away from your desk, and go outside to let your eyes see something different. Even if it's standing on the front porch watching the neighbours pass by.

Here's an enjoyable way to brush up and expand your vocabulary.

At Word Games you can race against a clock to group letters into a word, play others in matching words, sharpen up your cryptic word skills and pit your word knowledge against the clock in a game of definitions and deception.

You're taking a break but at the same time learning new words and sharpening your brain for writing.

You need to install the Amazon Games & Software Downloader (for Windows XP/Vista, 3.0MB) before you can download games and software.

Install the Games downloader

The Amazon Games & Software Downloader allows you to download games or software easily and quickly. It is free and only takes a minute to install.

Browse online games now

Sometimes you find yourself with a deadline -- you're going to work solidly at your desk for 4 hours, no time for anything else.

Prepare yourself. Take 10 minutes before you start and stand outside in your yard or on your balcony.

March up and down on the spot, you don't have to do it quickly or life your knees up higher than comfort allows, just get your body into a marching rhythm. Hum your way through a bouncy song (silently if your neighbours are close). Don't knock yourself out, this isn't an exercise programme, it's getting your blood circulating which your fires up your brain.

Have a good drink of water. Warm water is a pleasant alternative to a caffeinated drink. If your water supply isn't the best, drink bottled water.

Hang out the Don't Disturb signs, these can be literal signs, or the simple act of shutting the door. Ignore emails which don't directly involve your deadline. Turn off your notifier.

Set your egg-timer for 30 minutes. Put your head down and get cracking. When your timer rings, stand up and wave your arms about, shake your wrists. Nibble a snack. Drink some water.

Set your timer back for another 30 minutes and continue in this fashion until you have either completed your work or you realise that you have to sleep.

I've fallen asleep at my desk before and, although I try very hard to have my time organised, sometimes I fail. I need a break!

Thanks very much for dropping by to read about Taking a Break for Home Office Sanity. You're more than welcome to leave a note in the guest book above and, if you're a member of Squidoo, you can also rate this lens :)

It's all much appreciated, Susanna

For more pages like this, my lens collection is at Susanna's Lensography

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