micropauzes

Micropauzes, or micropauses in English, refer to brief pauses taken during ongoing activity, typically lasting from a few seconds to a minute or two. They are used in work, study, and daily tasks to relieve cognitive load, reduce fatigue, and prevent overuse injuries.

In cognitive performance and ergonomics, micropauzes serve to shift attention, stretch the body, rest the eyes, or rehydrate. In screen-based work, common forms include eye breaks (look away from screen every 20 minutes for 20 seconds), short stretches, posture adjustments, or a quick mental reset.

Evidence on microbreaks shows mixed outcomes; some studies find improvements in attention, accuracy, and perceived fatigue, especially for monotonous tasks, while others show minimal differences when tasks are engaging or workloads are high. Key factors include break duration, frequency, and the nature of the rest (physical vs cognitive); context matters.

Practical use varies: in workplaces, microbreak policies may complement longer breaks; in education, micropause cycles can help maintain focus. They are not intended to replace rest periods but to augment them. They can be self-initiated or supported by software that prompts short pauses.

The term micropause is used interchangeably with microbreak in some texts, though micropause may emphasize a shorter, momentary halt rather than a longer rest.