![\"Daily](\"https:\/\/timingapp.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Timing_breaks.png\")
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The rat race is real, people.<\/p>\n
We are continually hammering ourselves into the ground to be the best, earn the most, and prove our value to others.<\/p>\n
Although it\u2019s great to have strong ambition and pride in your work, too much pressure and commitment to the grind can do the exact opposite of what you desire.<\/p>\n
Whether feeling the need to be connected to work 24\/7, or cramming for a university exam, we often throw sleep and self-care to the wayside in favor of pushing unrealistic expectations upon ourselves.<\/p>\n
The result is detrimental\u2014lack of sleep, relaxation, and exercise can affect not only the level of your work (it\u2019s hard to be on your A-game when you\u2019re a worn-out mess), but can also have negative effects on your overall health.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to take breaks during your workday.<\/p>\n
[content_upgrade cu_id=”328″]Free Download: Try These 15 Break Tips<\/strong>[content_upgrade_button]Click Here[\/content_upgrade_button][\/content_upgrade]<\/p>\n There is no disputing that technical advancements in today\u2019s modern world have made many of us slaves to every ping and ring of our digital devices.<\/p>\n According to a report by bankmycell.com<\/a>, the average smartphone user in the U.S. checks their device 47 times a day\u2014this is on top of us being tethered to our laptops. Most of us can\u2019t even go a few feet without our smartphone in our pocket or our Apple Watch buzzing on our wrist.<\/p>\n Aside from the obvious issues that this kind of behavior breeds (anxiety, sleep deprivation, and even depression or loneliness), it also makes us feel like we need to be quick to respond to everything that comes our way.<\/p>\n Since most people are checking their smartphone nearly 50 times a day, we feel that it\u2019s likely that our bosses, clients, and customers expect us to have lightning reflexes when an issue arises or a request is made.<\/p>\n This\u2014coupled with the assumption that our peers and competitors are working around the clock\u2014is prohibiting us from taking the breaks necessary to refresh our mind and recharge our energy.<\/p>\n To an outsider, it may seem like freelancers are the lucky ones who can avoid feeling tied down to work at all moments of the day\u2014after all, they make their own hours, right?<\/p>\n Wrong.<\/p>\n Though it\u2019s true that many freelancers have the freedom to work remotely or be selective about the projects they accept, there are many factors (including those exact \u201cperks\u201d) that can make freelancers feel like they can\u2019t take precious breaks during the day.<\/p>\n Full-time employees are required to show up to the office during specific times each working day, which in itself can be a gauge of that employee\u2019s commitment and work ethic. If you are habitually on time and present during meetings, that certainly speaks volumes to your boss.<\/p>\n However, as a freelancer, there can be a constant need to prove your dedication by being available and responsive all day and night long\u2014not just within regular office hours.<\/p>\n Similarly, a full-time employee is usually paid an annual salary that compensates for around 40 hours of work each week. (Of course, there are many full-time employees across many different industries who work more than 40 hours a week or also feel the pressure to be available at all hours of the day.)<\/p>\n But, for a freelancer, you are likely either being paid hourly (so it makes sense that you would want to cram as much work in as possible) or on a retainer, which manifests a worry that you need to constantly prove your worth to clients.<\/p>\n On top of that, a freelancer usually juggles multiple clients, so this means more demands, emails, and calls from more people.<\/p>\n Because of this, it can feel difficult to take short breaks throughout the day\u2014let alone a solid lunch break\u2014or shut it all down at the end of the typical workday.<\/p>\n As we mentioned in the beginning, failing to take breaks during the day can have a negative impact on your health\u2014both physical and mental.<\/p>\nFailing to take breaks during the day can have a negative impact on your health\u2014both physical and mental. <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n For starters, workers (freelance or full-time) who sit at a desk on a computer all day can experience a laundry list of medical issues.<\/p>\n As experts at the Mayo Clinic<\/a> put it, \u201cResearch has linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns. They include obesity and a cluster of conditions\u2014increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels\u2014that make up metabolic syndrome\u2026Any extended sitting\u2014such as at a desk, behind a wheel or in front of a screen\u2014can be harmful. An analysis of 13 studies of sitting time and activity levels found that those who sat for more than eight hours a day with no physical activity had a risk of dying similar to the risks of dying posed by obesity and smoking.\u201d<\/p>\n Yikes!<\/p>\n And, even if you\u2019ve invested in a standup desk, there are still mental repercussions to not taking breaks. In fact, it can actually reduce productivity since you\u2019re not giving your brain a chance to rest and reset.<\/p>\n You\u2019re also more likely to experience burnout which can affect your other responsibilities and relationships, or make it so you end up resenting and disliking your job.<\/p>\n Okay, so now that you\u2019re (hopefully) convinced that it\u2019s important to take breaks throughout the workday, let\u2019s discuss when and how.<\/p>\n There are different schools of thought when it comes to how often you should be taking a pause from work.<\/p>\nCulture of Overworking<\/h2>\n
Full-Time v. Freelance<\/h2>\n
Health Consequences<\/h2>\n
![\"Daily](\"https:\/\/timingapp.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Timing_health.png\")
<\/p>\nTaking Breaks<\/h2>\n
![\"Daily](\"https:\/\/timingapp.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Timing_break-infographic.png\")