By Becky Petty, CP APMP
In today’s fast-paced professional environment, back-to-back meetings have become the norm. As proposal professionals, we often find ourselves jumping from one meeting to the next without a moment to catch our breath. However, there’s a simple yet effective strategy that can make a significant difference in our productivity and overall well-being: starting meetings five minutes after the hour (or half-hour).
Why the Five-Minute Break Matters
Our brains are not designed to function at peak performance without breaks. Continuous, back-to-back meetings can lead to cognitive overload, reducing our ability to think clearly, make decisions, and stay focused. By incorporating a five-minute break between meetings, we give our brains the necessary time to reset and recharge.
Research has shown that short breaks can improve cognitive function, enhance creativity, and boost overall productivity. These brief moments of respite allow us to process information, reflect on what we’ve learned, and prepare for the next task. In essence, the five-minute break is a small investment that yields significant returns.
The Physical and Emotional Benefits
In addition to cognitive benefits, taking a five-minute break between meetings can have positive effects on our physical and emotional health. Sitting for prolonged periods can lead to various health issues, including back pain, poor posture, and increased risk of chronic diseases. Plus, you can’t do anything real with a full bladder and empty stomach. A short break allows us to stand up, stretch, and move around, promoting better circulation and reducing the risk of physical discomfort.
Emotionally, continuous meetings can be draining. The constant need to be “on” can lead to stress and burnout. A brief pause between meetings provides an opportunity to decompress, take a few deep breaths, and reset our emotional state. This can help us approach each meeting with a fresh perspective and a positive attitude.
Implementing the Five-Minute Break
Implementing this strategy is simple. When scheduling meetings, set the start time five minutes after the hour or half-hour. For example, instead of scheduling a meeting from
10:00 to 11:00, schedule it from 10:05 to 11:00. This small adjustment can make a big difference in how we feel and perform throughout the day.
Encourage your colleagues and team members to adopt this practice as well. Share the benefits of the five-minute break and lead by example. Over time, this small change can become a part of your organization’s culture, promoting a healthier and more productive work environment.
Conclusion
As proposal professionals, our work demands high levels of focus, creativity, and collaboration. By incorporating five-minute breaks between meetings, we can enhance our cognitive function, improve our physical and emotional health, and ultimately perform at our best. Let’s embrace this simple yet powerful strategy and make our workdays more productive and enjoyable.
Becky Petty, CP APMP
Innovative Proposal Professional
Becky is an APMP Practitioner with over a decade of proposal experience. She lives for cross-collaboration and crafting executive summaries. When she’s not chasing a deadline, Becky enjoys listening to podcasts from great storytellers like Ira Glass and Malcolm Gladwell.
