More about breaks

diff --git a/chapter05.md b/chapter05.md
index 00f603c03b534557bc5fa4bfd691d2638b560dd4..24b2d2dcc43c572d0c5649c3c13a60ed9b86ac01 100644 (file)
--- a/chapter05.md
+++ b/chapter05.md
@@ -31,3 +31,15 @@ What we need to realize is that those ideas of what a perfect programmer is and
 Our bodies require down-time in order to be most effective. We need to step away from the keyboard and allow ourselves to come down and relax. Our minds are not designed for constant work, especially at the levels that computer programming requires. We need to step back and realize that we need breaks throughout the day in order to recharge ourselves.
 
 ## Taking a break
+
+Taking a break is more than just flipping to another application. I know my tendency for taking a break is to start checking email or head to one of the various chat programs I have in order to catch up on what's happened since I last took a break. Taking a break can be as simple as standing up and walking from your workspace into another room or area. It gives your mind the ability to completely switch out the context of the area you're in and allows it to focus on the new context and new input.
+
+This can be tricky in an office situation where the expectation is that one must be at their desks in order to be productive. And there are only so many "bio-breaks" someone can take in such situations. How can you give yourself the context switch your mind needs in such situations?
+
+You might be able to achieve the same sort of context-switch by looking away from the computer display for a few moments. It's a good idea to look away from the screen every now-and-again to give your eyes a rest. Giving your mind a rest while you give your eyes a rest can give you the incentive to do both.
+
+Standing up can also be a good context switch where you give yourself more of a context-switch from the physical location of the computer. Telling yourself that there's two contexts around your desk: the context of sitting at the desk, and the context of standing at the desk you might be able to use that as the context switch and rest that your mind needs.
+
+If you have a culture in your workplace that allows you to step away from your desk and walk around that would be a great context switch. Adding a physical component (as much as you can) to your context switch can help your mind to relax and recharge.
+
+You'll have to experiment with a few of these and see what works. At the bare minimum you'll want your mind to feel as though it doesn't have to be on all the time. You want your mind to cool down between coding sessions so it can flush it out of "cache" and into longer-term storage. Then when you get back to your coding session you'll be more likely to remember what was going on.