How a 5-Minute 'Oasis Moment' Could Transform Your Work Day

We all know how beneficial rest is. From getting a solid 8 hours of sleep, to spending a Sunday afternoon relaxing on the couch, our bodies thrive when we give them the chance to unwind.

There are multiple benefits to incorporating daytime rest into your daily routine – especially when you’re working or studying. From improved mood, to reduced fatigue, taking as little as five minutes out of your day to relax and reset, makes all the difference when it comes to working efficiently and effectively.

Coined by Dr Sue Varma, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine recently in the New York Times, an 'oasis moment' is a five-minute period of uninterrupted daytime rest, to help replenish energy while working.

People often attribute daytime rest as “a reward permissible only when you ‘deserve’ it,” she said. But it should be implemented into daily practice, just like having an evening routine, or following a healthy diet.

What is an ‘Oasis Moment’?

‘Oasis moments’ are 5-minute breaks that offer respite from the literal and figurative noise around you. Meaning no screens, no reading, no music, to allow your body to replenish its energy to keep you moving on with what you were focused on.

According to Associate Professor Paul Ginns, an expert in educational psychology at The University of Sydney, "you need to be doing something different for five minutes. Move away from your computer or device, do some breathing or just sit quietly to rest your brain from the task. Scrolling through social media does not count as rest – you need to take a break from devices.”

“If you want your work or study to be more productive, you need to build in simple five-minute breaks of doing nothing," he added.

How do ‘Oasis Moments’ work?

It’s important to note that ‘oasis moments’ aren’t naps, but they do offer some of the same restorative benefits. From improved mood and energy, to increased vitality and restoring attention.

Taking just five interrupted minutes out of your day to focus on something else – or in most cases, nothing at all – we can effectively replenish our energy and focus stores which will help us carry on with our working day.

When is the best time to take an ‘Oasis Moment’?

The beauty of ‘oasis moments’ is they can be taken at any time of the day. However, according to Dr Sue Varma, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the New York University, ‘oasis moments’ will be the most effective when taken before focus and productivity levels begin to decline. “You’ve only depleted a little bit of the resources, so it’s easier to get them back,” she said.

But if you are unable to take five minutes to relax and reset prior to your energy levels plummeting, Dr Varma shared that taking an ‘oasis moment’ at any time of the day will have major benefits.

How to take an ‘Oasis Moment’

1. Carve out five minutes of your day where you will be without distractions.

2. Leave the room/space you are working or studying in.

3. Silence all technological devices and leave them behind in your working/studying room.

4. Sit down in a peaceful location, and take some slow, deep breaths.

5. Once the five minutes have passed, return to your workspace and continue working with a refreshed, clear mind.