She said for some people, being on social media isn't a good idea in general it doesn't bring them the connection or joy they're looking for. 'Just being able to say, 'I'm struggling' and being able to find out you're not alone in that is very powerful' Galligher said. Instead, she said you're just getting a running commentary on it online. She said spending too much time on social media can take away from your ability to live life. 'Human beings are social creatures by nature, but just like all things there is too much of a good thing,' Arianna Galligher, the Associate Director, of Ohio State's STAR Trauma Recovery Center, said. Holland has more than 67 million followers on Instagram. I get caught up and I spiral when I read things about me online.' 'I find Instagram and Twitter to be overstimulating, to be overwhelming. 'I have taken a break from social media for my mental health,' Tom Holland said in an Instagram video. Psychologists say there are a lot of benefits to stepping back from social media. So you might as well get those 5-minute breaks to recharge.The actor who plays Spider-Man and has millions of followers on Instagram is taking a break from social media to protect his mental health. The truth is that no matter what you do to improve your productivity-you still have to do the work. Sometimes we get lost in the lists and productivity hacks. You don’t need to read another article about productivity. With all the noise, it’s easy to forget the importance of taking breaks. For example doing 12 x 25-minute intervals results in 300 minutes of productive work. Don’t accept interruptions or false emergencies when you’re in a 25-minute stretch.Take a 15-minute break after 4 intervals.Don’t check your email during your break.Assign just one task to every 25-minute interval.Use an app to set the 25-minute interval.If you want to try the Pomodoro Technique, here are a few other things that can help: So you can experiment with how long you prefer to work before you take a break. Some research shows that it’s counterproductive to focus for longer periods of time. I’ve experimented with different time intervals (25, 30, and 40 minutes), breaks, and 45 minutes is pretty much the maximum. I also find it more fun and less stressful to work. I’ve been working in 25-minute intervals for years. Feel pleased with the work you have done. Use your break to walk a bit, do some stretches, grab a cup of coffee or do something that relaxes you. Take your breaks seriously - see them as a reward. That’s why the 5-minute breaks are equally important as the 25 minutes of work. In contrast, when you work on a task, without a break, it’s easy to lose focus and get lost in the work. Sometimes you find that you have to adjust your work to increase the quality. When you take a break, you force yourself to take a few seconds to reevaluate. Taking strategic breaks will also increase the quality of your work. When you are completing long tasks, such as studying for exams, making presentations or writing reports, it’s best to take short, and planned breaks. Research by Alejandro Lleras, from the University of Illinois, showed that deactivating and reactivating work allows us to stay focused. So focusing on one thing for a long time is hard for your brain. To protect us from looming threats the brain is in a constant state of alertness. Our brains are meant to ensure our survival. The human brain can’t focus on a single task for long periods. The reason this method works is also simple: Evolutionary biology. Use the Pomodoro Method: Take a 5-minute break after every 25 minutes of work. I’ve found a way to eliminate that frustration with the distractions of work (not boozing), which makes it a lot more fun to work and less stressful. You just couldn’t have one drink or watch just one video. It’s like getting angry with alcohol after you’ve spent a night boozing. Sometimes I start by watching one YouTube video, and BOOM, 2 hours have gone by.Īnd then I get frustrated with YouTube. What I don’t like is the feeling of wasting time on stuff that is meaningless. I’m not looking for shortcuts or hacks, so I have to do less work. The idea is simple: I want to get more done in the same amount of time. And I’ve tested different methods to boost my productivity. I’ve read countless articles on time management. I’ve read dozens of books on productivity. But what about your personal productivity?

Machines get faster and better every day. For machines, it’s straightforward: You improve speed. It’s human nature to have a desire to improve your output. Do you spend the majority of your day at your desk? And do you find it difficult to concentrate throughout the day? There’s a simple solution to improve your productivity and focus: The Pomodoro method.

Taking a break