Coffee break debate: short ones vs the 20 minute escape

I was standing in the break room at my old job in Austin last spring, and this guy Dave from accounting said, "You know, a break isn't real unless it's at least 20 minutes." I laughed, but then my supervisor walked in and said the opposite, that 5 minutes is enough to reset. That one conversation stuck with me because I've tried both. Short breaks keep me focused but I never actually relax, and long ones make me dread going back to my desk. Is a break about the time or the mental distance you get from work? Kinda curious what you all think.

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christopherwilson23d ago

Austin taught me the real trick, set a timer for 12 minutes and take a walk around the block. That keeps my head clear without the dread of easing back into a bigger gap. Short ones just make me antsy, long ones kill my whole afternoon, so the sweet spot is just getting your body moving.