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What to do during a 5-minute work break: a simple plan
A practical five-minute routine: finish a stopping note, step away, move gently, get water and return to one clear task.
Before starting: leave a stopping note
Write down the next small action for your current task, such as checking one paragraph or running one test. Then open Work Breaks, keep the default five minutes and press Start break. This note gives you somewhere specific to return.
0:00–1:00 — take your hands off the keyboard
Let go of the mouse and keyboard. Look away from your device rather than opening another feed. The timer offers quiet clouds, but watching them is optional: hide the animation if you prefer a plain countdown.
1:00–2:00 — change position
If your surroundings allow, stand up and take a few easy steps. If you need to stay seated, change position and let your hands rest. There is no movement score to reach and no need to force a stretch.
2:00–4:00 — keep the pause simple
Get some water or spend a quiet moment away from your desk. If you would rather follow a breathing rhythm, use Breathing Circle for a separate short session; do not try to fit every activity into one break.
4:00–5:00 — choose your next action
When you return, check the timer and read your stopping note. The finish message is silent and appears on the page. Pick up the one action you wrote down instead of reopening every message at once.
Adapt the timer to your day
Have only a minute before a call? Select one minute. Have a longer gap? Select ten. Reset before changing duration. This is a manual break timer, not an automatic work/break schedule, and it cannot guarantee a timely alert while your device is locked.