I just realized that I work best if I have a short buffer between activities. Anyone else similar?

[Still-alive]

Its amazing how im 42 and still learning things about myself. So what i mean is lets say i just got off work and want to say do the laundry at home. I need a small maybe 10-15 minute buffer before i go ahead with it. You might also call it simply a pause to simply allow my brain to reset itself and brace for the next activity so i can go at it with 💯 mental energy and clarity.

looks like im not the only one who needs this cause i found this article on it. https://dakharipsyc.com/blog/mental-buffer-time/

Why These Short Pauses Matter

Constant activity with no breaks can lead to mental fatigue, shorter attention spans, and more stress. The mind works best when it has a little space to reset. Even a couple of minutes is enough to:

- Process what you just finished, so nothing lingers in the background
- Calm any tension or anxiety before moving on
- Give your brain a break from always being “on”

If you’ve ever felt on edge or stuck in a cycle of busyness, buffer time acts as a natural speed bump, helping you slow down so you can move forward with greater wellbeing.

Yes im similar. I like a short pause or buffer between activities

No i don’t need a pause or buffer between activities

It depends on the activities. I may need pauses for some but not others

[Apulu_backagain]

To be honest I'm more of a flow person. Like I lock in and stuff.

If I take a break between let's say studying then I usually get distracted because I think a lot. When I take a pause between those physics questions then my mind wanders to the most random place ever which isn't even vaguely related to physics, my mind will start wondering about, 'didn't Einstein marry his cousin?' like wtf. I was studying about coulomb's law why am I thinking about Einstein's weird marriage life.

So I lock in after waking up till breakfast time. After my breakfast I take a break by cleaning the home or playing chess or watering plants and then I lock in again till lunch and after lunch I watch some YouTube or TV then I lock in till 7 pm and then watch some YouTube and then lock in till dinner time. Just to give you an idea. I basically stay in flow state of mind by locking in till the next event of the day. I work longer and take long breaks. I try to study continuously for at least 3-4 hours at a time.

Somedays I don't even take breaks, I call them digital detox days. Those days, I do household chores or other productive stuff between my study intervals or just study continuously for hours without any track of time and I actually enjoy studying this way.

Other days I waste my whole day by procrastinating, especially those days when I start my day by using my device. Thankfully I'm more mindful nowadays and this happens rarely.

And this is something I do even during working out of doing general chores. I would rather get everything done at once because I enjoy my breaks more by being relieved.

I'm glad that pomodoro method works for you and I kind of want to work like you too, taking small breaks and all. Because though I have great attention span, sometimes this kind of schedule starts showing on my physical health like gaining weight and hair loss and having more painful menstrual cycle even when I feel super satisfied studying for long hours, academic validation is like drugs.

[Beckybooboo]

This is so funny to me! I'm just the opposite. Even when I was young, when I got home from school, I would clean lol dust, vacuum, do dishes... I considered that my "down time". I still do it! To me, it's relaxing.

[DrPepper12]

Learned that in teacher school. Gotta have meaningful pauses & purposeful physical activity.

Switch it up 10 intro 20 activity 10 wrap up

[Wiredone]

Once i get determined to do something, I just keep going until everything is done

[queenofcardio]

Nope.. im good to go. No breaks needed

[WhitneySnow]

Yeah I do that

[MisterWack]

Same

[RedInnocent69]

Seems legit