Doing something for a very very long time makes you bored of that thing, and changing your mind from that is very important at that time. For people who do not work all day in front of a computer screen, taking a break would mean getting on the computer and checking your social media accounts, but for people who are in front of the computer all day, getting on to social networks is not going to be an easy break. They would still be putting strain on their eyes.
Since I am one of those, who tend to sit in front of the computer for long hours, I need to find other ways to relax, than to sit in front of a computer and browse the internet. Well, then I thought of sharing my thoughts with everyone in the blog post, where I list around 5 things that I do and encourage every other programmer and developer to do when they need a break from programming or coding. Obviously, I would not recommend you to go check your Facebook feed, or Twitter feed, or maybe play on your PS4.
If you are a developer, you might want to check out these other articles on Slash Coding.
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- Why Developers must keep a backup of their code
Without any further ado, let me list down the points for you.
#1. Read Books
Reading books, or any other form of print media, say a Newspaper or a Magazine helps your mind to relax. Especially when reading a book, your mind does not need to perform any serious calculations or any sort of serious thinking. Now, don’t go ahead and download an eBook on your iPad or your phone, I am talking about a physical book. However, if you own a Kindle with e-Ink Technology, you can read things on that. It is almost as good as a physical printed paper.
#2. Just lay down and do nothing
Another good idea is to just lay down on the bed, or on a bean bag and listen to music. Listening to music helps your mind relax, and in turn helps you to be more productive when you get back to work. While laying down on a bean bag, you can probably even read a book, or talk to someone nearby or over the phone!
#3. Creative Thinking
In your break time, obviously I would not want you to think about programming or other stuff, but along side with programming, you sometimes need to think something out of the box. During your break, you can think of various things, creatively that you plan to do and maybe jot down the points on a paper, or a Whiteboard if you use one.
#4. Exercise
Admit it, most of the people who sit in front of the computer. become lazy over time and it becomes difficult for them to move around and do other chores. A good idea is to join a gym and exercise daily during your break. If you think you don’t fit into a gym, just get out of your house, and go for a jog whenever you need a break. Also, a morning walk or jog is also a good idea to stay fit and productive!
#5. Hangout with Friends and Family
Now when I say Hangout, I don’t mean a Google Hangout. The best way to relax and stay away from a computer screen is to go and hang out with your friends and family. Just head over to a friend’s house or to any relative’s house. You will get used to it once you start doing this. But make sure when you get over to someone else’s house, don’t end up going on the computer in a while. Spend time with them, and talk to them. It really relaxes your mind.
Well, these are the things that I do when I am not programming or coding in front of my laptop. Also, I watch movies, but not too often because again, that is equally harmful for my eyes as much coding is. Do you do any other thing in your free time? Let us know in the comments section below, so that everyone can try that out. Don’t forget to subscribe to Slash Coding for latest post updates via RSS Feeds, Facebook, Google+ or Twitter.
