E-commerce site Meesho recently announced an 11-day mental health break for its employees. Here are why such breaks are beneficial.
The e-commerce site has announced a break between October 22 and November 1 as part of its initiative “Rest and Recharge” to enable employees to focus on their mental health.
A study has shown that while over 95% of employees need such breaks, only 28% seek them openly. While there is a lot of debate around how such straightjacket solutions may not necessarily help, here are some ways they can benefit.
Improves focus: A clear benefit of such a break is that it brings back the perspective on what is important and offers a clear vision. The break gives the time to look inside to know the draining factor, attend to it and reboot the brain and mind.
Idleness can be good: The saying goes that an idle mind is a devil’s workshop. However, of late, idleness has become indispensable for the brain. In his book “Autopilot: The Art and Science of Doing Nothing”, author Andrew Smart talks about how idleness can benefit the brain and lead to creative ideas.
Small moments of joy: Catching up with a friend, having a mindful meal, and meditating can trigger happiness and are important for the mind to calm down. Due to the hectic lives some lead, these activities take a back seat as there is never enough time. Mental health breaks can help them benefit from them by consciously including them in a planned routine. Research shows that these go a long way in ensuring productivity and overcoming the urge to procrastinate.
