A Pause (or Two) to Think
This is from my personal experience. In Spain, most of us teaching Vocational Education and Training usually offer one long break — around 30 minutes, if not more — during classes that can last up to six hours.
However, not long ago, I had the opportunity to work with two different groups of international students, and I noticed something interesting: their modules included short breaks of about 5–10 minutes every 60 to 90 minutes.
The same pattern appeared a few months later during a joint training session with three other countries. Every 90 minutes, we were encouraged to stand up, refill our water bottles, or use the restroom. In short — nobody stayed seated. I even joined someone doing 20 squats to wake up their body, while another tried heel raises to stay active. Since then, I’ve decided to add those active breaks into my own daily routine.
These experiences made me think:
Are we really making the most of our “long breaks”?
Or would it be wiser to adopt the micro breaks model that seems to work so well elsewhere?
What Science Says
Scientific evidence gives us some useful clues:
🔹 A recent meta-analysis found that short breaks — up to 10 minutes — boost energy and reduce fatigue, though their effect on overall performance is more modest (PMC).
🔹 Another study showed that a 5-minute unstructured break during complex tasks can restore attention (MedicalXpress).
🔹 And according to the University of Rochester, taking a 10-minute break every 50 minutes helps to improve focus.
In education, there’s solid evidence that active breaks — involving movement or a change of activity — have moderate positive effects on selective attention.
Practical Applications in the Classroom
Our habit of offering a single long break has social and logistical benefits, but it may not be the most efficient for maintaining focus.
Short and frequent breaks, on the other hand, help to “reset” mental focus without breaking the learning rhythm.
It’s not just about stopping — it’s about how we pause. Stretching, changing activities, or having a quick chat can make a real difference. Every group is unique, and paying attention to their energy levels and concentration can help us decide when and how to take breaks.
A Purposeful Pause
Adopting micro breaks doesn’t mean giving up what we’ve always done — it means experimenting with new teaching habits that align more closely with what science suggests.
The balance may lie in combining both approaches: short pauses to sustain attention and one longer break for social connection.
Ultimately, if we want more dynamic classes, less fatigue, and stronger engagement with our students, maybe it’s time to try something different.
💬 What do you think?
