Want to learn how to be productive as a smoker and still take breaks?
Let’s dive in…
It’s a fact that smokers get a bad rap when it comes to productivity. But that’s not always fair. Truth be told, smoke breaks can be useful for keeping people focused and mentally sharp all day long. If a smoker does them the right way, of course.
The key to balance.
When smokers find a way to stay on top of their work but also still take breaks when they need to, it’s a win-win. That’s the goal of this guide. Let’s break down how to do that.
What You’ll Learn:
- The Benefits of Smoke Breaks For Productivity
- Using Smart Break Strategies
- Planning Workdays Around Smoke Breaks
- Tools to Help Smokers Stay Productive
The Benefits of Smoke Breaks For Productivity
Let’s not beat around the bush here…
Taking breaks at work isn’t a bad thing. On the contrary, research shows that the brain needs breaks to recharge and avoid burnout. The research is also on smokers’ side when it comes to smoke breaks.
That’s because studies have found that smokers are able to take a mental reset during a smoke break, this according to a report from GlobeNewswire.
In that study, 57% of smokers said smoke breaks helped them have a mental reset. 41% also felt smoke breaks allowed them to change their environment from their desks.
That mental reset can be powerful.
When a person’s brain has a rest, it comes back more alert. That means that smokers who get the most out of their quality Canadian cigarette brands during breaks use those minutes to clear their heads. And return to work with renewed energy.
All it takes is those breaks being intentional and planned.
Simple, right?
It’s not that breaks are bad. It’s when smokers take breaks without a plan or purpose.
Using Smart Break Strategies
This is where the more serious productivity hacks come into play…
The average smoker takes 4.6 breaks per workday. Those breaks are usually about 7 minutes each. That adds up to just over 33 minutes per day smokers spend on break. If a smoker wants to be productive and efficient, that time needs to be well-spent.
Keep Breaks Short
Smart smokers don’t let breaks go on too long. They set a timer for seven to ten minutes. Enjoy their smoke break and then get back to work. That’s usually long enough to recharge without losing work momentum.
Batch Tasks Before Breaks
Another smart strategy is to try and complete a unit of work before taking a break. Send that email. Finish that section of the report. By batching work and completing a natural stopping point, a smoker comes back from break with more momentum.
Breaks as Rewards
Treat smoke breaks like small rewards for getting a task done. That positive reinforcement and the ability to enjoy a smoke makes it easier to stay on task in between breaks.
Don’t Fall Into The Guilt Trap
Another challenge smokers face is the guilt of taking breaks. If a smoker feels guilty and negative about taking breaks, that attitude will bleed into their work. Be positive. Focus on the break as a planned opportunity to come back refreshed. Not a waste of time.
Planning Workdays Around Smoke Breaks
This is where many smokers go off the rails…
Without planning or intention, smoke breaks can get out of control. A few minutes outside for a cigarette turns into a 15-minute smoke chat with a coworker. Pretty soon, half of the morning is gone. The answer is a structure or schedule that works.
The key is a flexible schedule, which is outlined below:
- Morning Work Block (9am-12pm): Do focused work. Take one break around 10:30 after completing an important task.
- Midday Work Block (12pm-2pm): Break for lunch. It’s a natural break time in the middle of the day.
- Afternoon Work Block (2pm-5pm): Energy is lowest in the afternoon. Plan two breaks to power through the afternoon slump.
If a smoker sticks to a schedule like the above, break times become consistent and predictable. There are no random trips to the smoking area throughout the day.
The key is to treat the schedule just like any other meeting or appointment.
Tools to Help Smokers Stay Productive
Want to take productivity to the next level?
There are a few simple tools to help smokers manage their work and breaks in an efficient way. No need for complicated apps or time trackers.
Pomodoro Technique
This is a classic time management hack that works for smokers, too. Work for 25 minutes straight. Take a five-minute break. Do four of those and then take a longer break. Smoke breaks fit perfectly into those long breaks.
Time Blocking
Schedule set times in a calendar for breaks throughout the day. This helps breaks from happening at random times and stops them from becoming all day events.
Task Lists
Write down a small list of three to five tasks to do between each break. A simple list like this keeps a smoker’s focus sharp and it’s easier to see progress throughout the day.
The Two-Minute Rule
If a task takes less than two minutes to complete, just do it. This stops little tasks from piling up and building the kind of stress that leads to more breaks.
Avoiding Common Productivity Killers
Here are some of the common traps smokers can fall into…
Smoke breaks can easily turn into productivity killers if a smoker isn’t careful. The best way to avoid these traps is to be aware of them. Here’s some examples:
The Social Trap
Smoke breaks often turn into extended conversations with coworkers or other smokers. Chit-chatting has its place, but it can turn a seven-minute break into a twenty-minute break. Set boundaries and keep social time separate from quick-recharge time.
The Phone Scroll
Many smokers spend their break time scrolling social media or news feeds. What starts as a quick check often turns into ten minutes of lost time. Leave the phone at the desk or set a hard five-minute limit on use.
The Afternoon Spiral
Energy usually dips in the afternoon, which can lead to smokers taking more breaks and getting less done. Counter this by scheduling less intensive tasks in the afternoon and saving high-focus work for the morning.
Making It All Work Together
Productivity comes down to intention in the end…
Smoke breaks aren’t the enemy of productivity. Ill-planned and unstructured breaks are. If smokers are intentional about their break schedule and make the best use of that time, they can be just as productive as non-smokers.
The strategies above are simple. But they work. Start with one or two small changes and build the habit. Once a few changes become second nature, layer on a few more over time. Small changes add up to big improvements.
The Bottom Line
Smokers can be productive workers, it’s just a matter of approach.
Quick recap:
- Smoke breaks can be mentally refreshing if used intentionally
- Keep breaks short, structured and scheduled
- Use productivity techniques like Pomodoro or time blocking
- Avoid common traps like social chats and phone-scrolling
- Treat breaks as earned rewards for completing work
Smokers who are high-performing at work are not the ones that skip breaks. They are the ones that take smart, intentional breaks. Short, intentional and productive.
Balance is everything.
With the above strategies, any smoker can stay focused, get more done and still enjoy their smoke breaks without the guilt. That’s the real productivity hack.
