What are some effective ways for Industrial Designers to take breaks?

2 Change your posture

Another important aspect of taking effective breaks is to change your posture, especially if you spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer or a sketchpad. Prolonged sitting can cause muscle tension, joint stiffness, and poor circulation, which can affect your health and well-being. To avoid these problems, you should stand up, stretch, walk, or do some light exercises during your breaks, to activate your blood flow, relax your muscles, and improve your posture. You can also use ergonomic furniture and accessories, such as adjustable chairs, desks, keyboards, and mice, to support your spine, neck, wrists, and eyes.

3 Diversify your activities

A third way to take effective breaks is to diversify your activities, to stimulate different parts of your brain, body, and senses. For example, you can listen to music, read a book, watch a video, play a game, meditate, or chat with a friend, depending on what you enjoy and what you need at the moment. The idea is to switch from your dominant mode of thinking and working, to a complementary or opposite one, to balance your cognitive load, emotional state, and creative output. You can also use your breaks to learn something new, explore a different topic, or get inspired by other sources.

4 Set boundaries

A fourth way to take effective breaks is to set boundaries, to avoid distractions, interruptions, and temptations that can undermine your focus, motivation, and quality of work. For instance, you should turn off or mute your notifications, close your tabs, and inform your colleagues or clients when you are taking a break, to respect your time and space. You should also avoid checking your emails, messages, or social media during your breaks, as they can trigger stress, anxiety, or comparison, which can hamper your recovery and creativity. Instead, you should use your breaks to disconnect from your work and reconnect with yourself.