Episode
Episode 227 - How to Use Microbreaks to Restore Focus
- Published
- Jun 12, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 229
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Summary
Summary Feeling exhausted despite being busy all day? Research suggests that short breaks throughout the day can boost energy, reduce fatigue, and help sustain performance. Discover how leaders can use microbreaks more effectively and encourage healthier work habits across their team. Transcript Hello and welcome to episode 227 of the Leadership Today podcast, where each week we share practical tips to improve your leadership. This week we're exploring how to use microbreaks to restore focus. Have you ever reached the end of a day and wondered why you're exhausted despite never really stopping? Many leaders spend their day moving from meeting to meeting, email to email, task to task, without taking a genuine break. We often assume that pushing through is a sign of commitment and productivity. But there comes a point where working longer doesn't mean working better. It turns out that even very short breaks can make a difference. A 2022 review of more than 20 studies found that microbreaks, breaks of less than ten minutes, help boost energy levels and reduce fatigue. In other words, those small pauses throughout the day aren't wasted time. They're one of the ways we sustain performance over the longer term. The researchers also found an important limitation. Microbreaks help maintain energy, but they aren't a substitute for proper recovery. If you've spent two hours doing deep analysis, solving complex problems, writing a major report, or making difficult decisions, a five-minute break will help, but it won't completely restore you. Some work requires a more substantial break. That's why lunch breaks, time away from work, and good recovery outside of work still matter. So what can leaders do? First, build short breaks into your day before you feel exhausted. Most of us w…