Rest is part of the work
Shahad Al Nouri
Better sleep, short breaks and a real lunch: the small changes that made me more productive.
For years I treated rest as a reward I would earn once the work was done. The work was never done.
A screen curfew
My phone now charges in the kitchen from ten at night. It was the single change that improved my sleep the most, and it cost nothing.
Breaks that are real breaks
Ten minutes away from the desk every ninety minutes, without scrolling. A short walk around the office or a glass of water on the balcony is enough.
Lunch away from the laptop
Eating at my desk felt efficient, but my afternoons were slower. Now lunch is thirty minutes at a table, often with a colleague, and I come back sharper.