ACHIEVE MORE BY WORKING LESS Breaks and naps are no obstacle to a good day’s work

The logic sounds simple: if you work more hours you’ll get more done. But studies consistently show that our brains are a bit like muscles in that the more we use them, the more they get tired, so short, sharp stints of work with plenty of breaks is the way to go.

According to a study by software company Draugiem Group, the two magic numbers when it comes to the work-rest balance are 52 and 17 – that’s 52-minute working sprints with 17-minute breaks. It reached this conclusion by analysing data from productivity app DeskTime. Workers who achieved the most were the ones who tended to work in this pattern.

So what should you do during your well-earned breaks? Well, look at cute photos of kittens and puppies, of course. A study by researchers at Hiroshima University in Japan found that after students viewed images of kittens and puppies – as opposed to the adult versions of the animals

– they were far more focused and performed better at a number-search game, as well as a game similar to Operation that required dexterity. This may be because the cute critters triggered the participants’ inbuilt caregiving instinct, making them more attentive and vigilant.

As well as taking more breaks, even getting some daytime shut-eye can help. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that people who napped for an hour at lunchtime performed better in recall tests and tests that involved solving maths problems than those who didn’t nap, as naps give the brain a chance to recharge. Lengthy spells in the land of nod can even help keep the weight off. In a study of more than 1,500 middle-aged adults, Simona Bo at the University of Turin found that the adults who became obese in her six-year study period slept on average 6.3 hours a night compared with 7.2 hours for those who stayed at a healthy weight.