Solve Big Problems with Small Breaks
Today, in 6 minutes or less, you will:
See how small breaks can help solve big problems by giving your mind a moment to breathe.
Discover why “creative idling” isn’t a waste of time but a powerful tool for real progress.
Learn quick, practical ways to incorporate these breaks into your daily routine without feeling guilty.
Hey there!
If you’re anything like me, you have days when you feel like you’re agonizing over the same problem again and again, desperately waiting for the lightbulb moment. On a busy workday, you may feel burdened by tasks and the stress that come with it and on such days, your mind can stop producing fresh ideas. Ironically, the more we force ourselves to power through, the more we sink into mental quicksand. If you’re nodding in recognition, then congratulations—you’re human.
The good news? There’s an antidote to this vicious cycle of burnout and frustration, and it’s surprisingly simple: small breaks, or what I call mine—creative breaks (I’ll explain later).
Yes, breaks, that habit we sometimes treat like a luxury we earn only after we’ve nearly passed out. It turns out these tiny pauses are key to solving big problems—and doing it in a way that respects your sanity, your body, and your happiness.
The Paradox of Working Less (to Achieve More)
It sounds ironic, but sometimes the best way to solve a stubborn problem is not to look directly at it. Just like how you can see stars better through your peripheral vision at night, problems sometimes reveal themselves when we’re not staring them down with laser-like intensity.
When we allow the mind to wander, we’re creating something that the researchers call incubation time. Our subconscious mind keeps working on the problem in the background, free of forced concentration. When they say that the best ideas come to you while you’re in the shower, it’s not just a saying, there’s actually a point to it.
However, it’s not exactly as simple as that.
If we take a closer look at the studies, it turns out that just taking a break and resting will not increase the results of your output. But doing something with low cognitive demand will.
Research also suggests that engaging in simple external tasks that allow the mind to wander may facilitate creative problem-solving and contribute to creative insight by allowing for associative, background processing.
So the one thing to take away from all this research is that you have got to let your mind wander.
Short, low-cognitive-demand tasks are surprisingly effective at sparking solutions and creativity. These might be as simple as folding laundry, doodling, taking a short walk, or doing some gentle stretching.
Now, here’s why I call them creative breaks—because I was once frustrated with a problem and randomly, picked up a book from my freshest book haul - Visual Thinking by Williemien Brand and thought… great, a book I can’t even read, because it’s just pages and pages with doodles and scribbles.
Annoyed, I picked up pen and paper and redraw some doodles from the book. My mind drifted while I was scribbling away and 20 minutes later and sat back at my laptop and did the thing I was stuck with.
The next day, I was trying to think intensely about something yet again. Frustrated, I said out loud: “aghrr, I need a creative break!”, and went to pen and paper again. And thus “I need a creative break” phrase was born.
The Difference of Breaking vs. Idling
Sometimes people assume that any pause is good, but to be honest, not all breaks are created equal. Scrolling through social media or diving into a deep conversation about a separate stressful topic might not help your mind drift in a productive way. You can end up feeling even more mentally cluttered. The key is to keep your break low-effort, almost mindless, so your brain can slip into that daydreamy state where random thoughts can connect.
You might wonder, “But idling in front of the TV or scrolling social media is also a break!” In theory, you’re not doing your main task, so it’s a break, right? But these aren’t the same kind of breaks we’re talking about. TV or social media can still stimulate your brain in ways that don’t leave room for real wandering. You might be absorbing drama, news, or social comparisons—basically, new mental clutter to process.
What we want is a break that’s restful and gently engaging, not a break that piles on more information. That’s why something like doodling or light movement can be more beneficial—there’s no new, heavy input. So if Netflix is your jam, by all means, enjoy it when you want to unwind after a long day, but it’s not the most effective “creative break” if you’re aiming to solve a problem.
Tracking Progress and Noticing Results
When we get into these new habits, we want some proof that it’s actually working, right? One straightforward method is to keep a small log of your tasks and how difficult they feel before and after breaks. Nothing fancy—just a quick note on your phone or a sticky note next to your workspace:
Task: “Draft monthly report”
Before Break: “Struggling with how to phrase findings, feeling mentally stuck”
After Break: “Knocked out the summary in 15 minutes, found a new angle for presentation”
Everyone’s “productivity rhythm” is different. The trick is consistency. If you schedule breaks, you’re more likely to respect them. If you just tell yourself, “I’ll take a break when I’m done,” guess what? You might never be “done” until you crash.
So here we are—talking about breaks, doodles, body signals, and ironically, how doing “less” can help you accomplish “more.” Perhaps this feels counterintuitive, or maybe it’s resonating with you on a deep level. Either way, I hope you’ll give it a try.
Start small. Seriously, just one break. Take a couple of minutes, do something mindless yet soothing, and see if that little spark of creativity or problem-solving lights up your brain. If it does, you’re on your way to making short breaks a healthy, permanent part of your routine.
A Quick Recap Before We Wrap Up
Small Breaks, Big Impact: A short pause can rejuvenate your thinking and foster hidden insights.
Low Cognitive Demand: Engage in an activity that doesn’t require intense mental focus—like doodling or gentle movement—to give your brain space to roam.
No Guilt: Breaks aren’t lazy. They’re strategic. Embrace them as a necessary part of your productivity cycle.
Track Progress: Notice how you feel and how much easier tasks become post-break. A quick log can help you see improvements.
Prevent Burnout: Breaks act as emotional relief valves. They help curb stress before it explodes into something more serious.
Quote of the week:
Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.
- Anne Lamott, an American novelist and nonfiction writer
Feel free to reply or leave a comment, share your own take, suggest a topic, or ask for advice, whatever it is, I’m here for you.
Healthy Productivity!
- Ance