6 Essentials for an at Home Break Room

Unless you absolutely loved your nine to five job, then chances are, one of your favourite places to be was your break room. There was just something about the break room wasn’t there?

From the smell of coffee, the buzz of office gossip and your favourite chair (we all had one), it was a great place to recharge your batteries for the rest of your work day.

As a blogger or writer, chances are you now work from home. If you’re like me, then you’re probably guilty of grabbing a coffee or a sandwich and having it in front of your laptop while still working.

This means that you don’t actually get a break, which can seriously hinder your productivity. Taking a lunch or coffee break might feel like a waste of half an hour, but the truth is, that half an hour can leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. You will return to working ready to tackle your to-do list and who knows, maybe you’ll even find some inspiration while you’re flicking through a magazine.

Of course, it’s not always practical to have a specific break room or man cave at home (though this would be the ideal scenario!), but I think it’s safe to say we all have a kitchen. And a kitchen is often the heart of our homes which makes it the perfect welcoming place to take our breaks.

Here are some things to do that can make your kitchen into a perfect break room that will leave you feeling ready to face the rest of your work day with vigour:

Get a Coffee Machine

No, not a kettle. Nothing beats the taste and smell of freshly brewed coffee.

Invest in a drip coffee maker (you can pick them up pretty cheap on Amazon). Set it away before you start working and you’ll have freshly brewed coffee waiting for you when you start your break.

For a really special treat, why not invest in an espresso maker. Some of the better ones even come with a milk frothing wand so you can make lattes and cappuccinos too. You’ll be able to treat yourself to your favourite barista style drinks in the comfort of your own kitchen for a lot cheaper than nipping down to your local Costa.

Remove Any Work Related Things

Obviously, this is a bit more difficult if you’re a food blogger but resist the temptation to work on your breaks.

Remove any calendars or planners that include work related deadlines and of course resist the temptation to take your laptop or mobile phone into the kitchen when you’re taking your break. If you really can’t resist the temptation to take a shot of your meal for Instagram, take it and then take your phone or camera out of the room – you can post it after your break.

Invest in Some Comfortable Furnishings

It can be tempting to go into the lounge and put your feet up. While this is a nice idea, it’s actually counter-productive. You’ll feel much less like going back to work if you let yourself get into lounging around mode.

Having said that, it is a break, so you want to be comfortable. This office kitchen table is a great solution. Not only is it comfortable enough to enjoy your break, but it looks stylish too and would be a great addition to your kitchen for non-work time too.

If your kitchen has a breakfast bar rather than space for a table, then bar stools are a good way to relax and sit down and enjoy your break.

Display Some Motivational Words

No break room is complete without some motivational quotes. Your fridge is a great place to display some of your favourite motivational quotes. Simply pin them in place with fridge magnets. You can print out some of your favourite quotes and change them around now and again so you don’t get sick of the same ones over and over again.

Have Something to Keep You Occupied

It can be tempting to cut your break short if you’re just sitting there bored.

Take over a drawer in your kitchen, or install a small shelf. Have a few books or magazines to keep you occupied on your breaks. Try to focus on non-work related material. Choose fiction or non-fiction that’s not even remotely related to your business, otherwise, you’re not getting a real break from work and you’re not allowing your mind a chance to switch off.

Alternatively, if you’re not really a reader, listen to music or even watch an episode of your favourite show.

You can choose pretty much any activity that isn’t related to work and will keep you from getting bored.

Use a Timer

As I mentioned above, you don’t want to cut your break short because you need a chance to de-stress from work and you want to return fresh and ready for the next challenge. It’s also important that you don’t get carried away and find that your half an hour break has become three hours.

That sounds hard right, but it’s easier than you would imagine, especially if you’re watching or reading something and you get engrossed. Remember, as your own boss, it’s up to you to make sure you get back to work. There’s no one there to hold you accountable to the time except yourself.

You don’t want to spend your entire break time clock watching though, so by setting a timer to go off after the time you’ve allowed yourself, you ensure that you get your allotted time without going over.

Don’t be tempted to use your alarm on your mobile phone – remember, your mobile isn’t allowed in the break room. Use your oven timer if you have one or invest in a timer.

Do you make sure to take a break when you’re working from home? Will you be using any of my tips? Let me know in the comments.

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Disclaimer: This is a collaborative post