In the midst of busy work, people inevitably take a break to read brief news, jokes, or chat with colleagues in the pantry to give themselves a moment of rest. This kind of short break is not slacking off. Recent research has found that it is actually key to boosting work energy and motivation.
A study led by Associate Professor Stacey Parker from the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland in Australia examined different ways people manage their energy levels in the workplace, and their impact on employee happiness, work motivation, and stress.
In this study, office employees were asked to wear heart rate monitors and complete short questionnaires during work hours to measure their psychological and physiological responses.
Parker stated that there are many ways for employees to maintain energy and motivation throughout the day at work, including taking short walks, chatting with colleagues, or planning their daily goals.
“We found that these behaviors can often be categorized into five common patterns or ‘brief descriptions of energy management’ that people adopt throughout the workday,” she said.
These five patterns include:
– **Activity**: giving the body a brief rest by taking a walk or stretching.
– **Socializing**: interacting with colleagues through short chats or work-related discussions.
– **Meaningful organizational work**: planning and organizing work, reflecting on the meaning of the work.
– **Active strategic planning**: combining meaningful organizational strategies with different types of brief breaks within the same hour.
– **Passive strategic planning**: focusing mainly on work tasks, rarely using energy management strategies.
The study shows that when employees adopt active strategies, which involve meaningfully planning work while taking “microbreaks,” their energy, motivation, and sense of control at work are at their highest levels.
However, Parker pointed out that in the 600+ work hours they studied, only 6% of the time did employees use this method.
“Surprisingly, only about 25% of employees can be classified as efficient strategists, who frequently adopt beneficial energy management methods,” she said.
She mentioned that their research indicates employees don’t have to choose between work and rest. They can combine energy-recharging activities with work-focused strategies, even within a short hour, thereby enhancing both physical and mental health and work performance simultaneously.
She believes that the study will help organizations design more effective wellness programs and create healthier work environments for employees.
“For employers, this is an excellent opportunity to provide employees with the information, tools, and support they need to help them manage their energy more effectively,” she said.
The results of the study were published in the Journal of Business and Psychology on July 25.
Aside from boosting energy and motivation, chatting at work also has other benefits. Previous studies have shown that this “informal conversation” helps strengthen relationships, enhance one’s presence in the workplace, and can even turn negative rumors into positive ones, increasing others’ trust and respect for you.