Have you taken a break today? I often have to ask myself this, purely out of forgetfulness.

I feel like we can consume ourselves too much with what we have to get done in the next 30 minutes, hour, day or week. We just forget to take a break.

Our brains don’t magically turn off and we have a running to-do list — I say that as I’m sitting here typing this column but in the back of my mind, I’m thinking about what I need to get done before the weekend. Does that make me a multitasker?

Breaks are simply a time for yourself. You can stand up and stretch, get a breath of fresh air outside, grab some lunch or run an errand if time allows. Taking a break from work really helps replenish your productivity levels and focus.

I can’t even tell you how many times I have tried to go without eating something until I feel I’m about to break — and again, I am sitting here writing this as my stomach is growling. Why do I do it? I want to stay ahead of the game and not feel like I’m being lazy or falling behind with work. But when I do not eat something for a while, I can feel when I need to fuel up with brain food (literally).

When to take breaks is up to each individual person and their employer’s rules if there are any. I think it’s best to have multiple breaks throughout your shift. You could take a 10-15 minute break in the morning, a longer one for lunch and then another 10-15 minute break later in the afternoon. It could be more or less.

According to a survey by Tork, nearly 40% of people say they only occasionally, rarely or never take breaks during their workday and 22% of people feel guilty or judged when they step away from work midday.

The survey also showed that 94% of employees feel happier when they take a lunch break during the workday; 94% of employees agree that taking a break gives them a chance to take a step back and get a fresh perspective; 91% of employees and 93% of bosses agree or strongly agree that taking a break is an important part of maintaining their mental focus; and 88% of employees and 91% of bosses say they return to work feeling refreshed and reenergized after taking a break.

Whether you are working in the office, hybrid or completely remote, communicating with your employer when you need to take a break throughout the day is important. Not only are you taking care of your wellbeing, but also, you are prioritizing the quality of your work because you know that breaks will help you stay productive.

I say all of this, yet I know that I am far from perfect. I am still learning each and every day that it’s okay to step away from work for a few minutes. Sometimes, all you need to say is, “I need a break.”

Navarro is the editor of the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch. She can be reached at megan@haysfreepress.com.