Getting up very early and working at home lets you make progress on your most critical projects, work without the distractions of social media or the phone, and creates space in your day for rest.

By working intensively for an hour and a half to two hours, then taking a break for 20 minutes, you get the restorative benefits of a rest, while still keeping your intellectual momentum going.

Multitasking prevents you from working productively on any single task. So close your email, put on headphones, and turn off those notifications. You’ll do more in two focused hours than six distracted ones.

A recent study found that even walking on a treadmill while facing a cinder block wall boosts creativity. So next time you’re feeling sluggish at work, walk around the block to get those creative juices flowing.

Not every workplace is nap-friendly, but even a short nap in a wellness room can top up flagging energy, help your brain retain new information, and even boost your creativity.

Many writers stop for the day in mid-sentence, which makes it easier to pick up again the next day. As scientists recently discovered, knowing that you’ll return to a problem encourages your subconscious to keep working on it.

When you leave the office or finish a task, put it out of your mind. Bringing home your problems guarantees that you won’t get the rest necessary to tackle them effectively.

People forgo tens of billions of dollars’ worth of vacation days every year. Not only is this like not cashing a paycheck, but people who don’t take vacations are at greater risk of chronic stress and burnout.

The best minds have hobbies that let them enjoy some of the same satisfactions as their work, but at a small scale and without the frustrations.

In today’s 24/7 world, you’re never done: Work follows us home, mobile devices make you always-accessible, and projects can always be tweaked a little more. The only rest you get is the rest YOU decide to give yourself so take those breaks and relax already.

If you’re thinking of taking a breather at work, don’t waste that time on social media. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram can be a rabbit hole of content and before you know it you’ve spent a few good hours reading mindless articles. Want to know more? Monitor your social media tips here.