When I started learning to code, I had one belief: “Work more, learn more, grow faster.” So, I used to sit in front of my laptop for hours. Sometimes 6, 8, even 10 hours straight. No lunch break, no walk, no proper rest. I thought I was being productive. I was wrong.
Let me be honest. My brain started to feel tired. I was writing code that didn’t even make sense. I made small mistakes. My eyes would burn, and I started to feel frustrated — and worse, unmotivated. That’s when I learned something important: the human brain needs time to reset.
The First Time I Took a Break (By Accident)
One day, the electricity went out. I had no battery left. I was forced to step away. I made tea. I watered some plants. I stretched my back. After one hour, the electricity came back. I sat down and started again.
Guess what? The problem I was stuck on for 3 hours earlier… I solved it in just 10 minutes.
That’s when I realized: breaks don’t waste your time. They save your time.
Why Our Brain Loves Breaks
Our mind works just like a battery. If you use it non-stop, it gets tired. It slows down. It starts to make mistakes.
But when you take a short break — even just 15 minutes — your brain gets to breathe. It resets. And when you come back, you are faster, clearer, and more focused.
What Kind of Breaks Help the Most?
Now, I’m not saying you lie in bed and scroll your phone. That’s not a real break. A good break is something that relaxes your body and clears your mind.
Here are some simple things I do:
- Take a short walk
- Stretch my arms and back
- Drink water or tea
- Talk to someone
- Water the plants
- Sit quietly and breathe
These small things bring back energy to your body and brain.
But Won’t Breaks Make Me Fall Behind?
This is what I feared too. I thought if I take breaks, I’ll get less done.
Actually, the opposite happened. When I started using the “50–10 rule” (work for 50 minutes, break for 10), I noticed:
- My work had fewer mistakes
- I solved problems faster
- I stayed in a good mood
- I felt proud of my work
The Truth: You’re Not a Robot
If you want to be a good developer — not just today, but for years — you need to take care of yourself. Burnout is real. I’ve seen friends who loved coding, but they stopped because they pushed themselves too hard without rest.
Your brain is your superpower. Don’t break it. Give it breaks.
My Advice to Every New Developer
If you’re learning to code or already working as a developer, here’s my real advice:
Take breaks. Daily. Even small ones.
It’s not a sign of laziness. It’s a sign that you respect your body and brain. And trust me — your future self will thank you.
Final Thoughts
We often think success means working more hours. But real success is doing better work, not just more work. Breaks helped me become a better developer, a happier person, and a smarter problem solver.
So the next time you feel stuck, don’t panic. Just take a break.
And maybe — just maybe — that’s the smartest move you’ll make all day.
If you liked this blog, share it with a friend who always forgets to take breaks. Let’s remind them: sometimes, stepping back is the best way to move forward.
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