Poll: How long can you work without interruption before you need a break? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How long can you work without interruption before you need a break?".
This poll was originally submitted by Morano El-Kholy. View the poll results »
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From less than one hour to 3-4 hours, depending on several factors like: How interesting is the text? What is the deadline? Did I sleep well the night before? How is the weather outside? Is my dog asleep or quite awake? Sometimes, when I'm concentrating on a translation I lose all sense of time passing but I don’t think I’ve ever worked without interruption for 8-9 hours. Anyway, now that my dog is getting old I have to go walkies at least three times a day. So, at 7 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. ... See more From less than one hour to 3-4 hours, depending on several factors like: How interesting is the text? What is the deadline? Did I sleep well the night before? How is the weather outside? Is my dog asleep or quite awake? Sometimes, when I'm concentrating on a translation I lose all sense of time passing but I don’t think I’ve ever worked without interruption for 8-9 hours. Anyway, now that my dog is getting old I have to go walkies at least three times a day. So, at 7 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. I’ll be either walking down my street or in the park nearby. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mario Freitas 
Brazil
Local time: 01:29
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| I don't really know | Sep 30, 2021 |
I don't really know, because I haven't worked for more than two hours in a row for more than 20 years. And I don't intend to... ever.
| | | | Mr. Satan (X)
English to Indonesian
I worked 12 hours straight once, so there.
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Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:29
Member (2008)
Italian to English
ProZ.com Staff wrote:
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How long can you work without interruption before you need a break?". This poll was originally submitted by Morano El-Kholy. View the poll results »
It depends on the complexity of the text I'm translating. In the case of challenging/problematic texts I may have to take a rest after every paragraph!
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 05:29
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
On average, about 1 hour before a short break, and 3-4 hours before a long break. This rhythm is not consistent on a day-to-day basis and it depends on the current circumstances.
It pretty much matches the corporate world. They work for 4 hours before the central 1 hour break, typically. This structure has been tested on a larger scale. The only difference is, their rhythm is very consistent but so are their work tasks/structure.
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 05:29
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
| 20 minutes, 5 minute break | Sep 30, 2021 |
20-30 minutes work, then a 5 minute break (or: as long as it takes to make a cup of coffee).
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 05:29
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
| Matching the input by my physical therapist. | Sep 30, 2021 |
Samuel Murray wrote:
20-30 minutes work, then a 5 minute break (or: as long as it takes to make a cup of coffee).
I was told the same by a physical therapist, to get up each 20 minutes if I am really tethered to the screen, at least for a short walk around the house or some stretching. I can't say I follow this always in case of very tight deadlines, but at each hour or 45 minutes, normally yes.
There are apps that remind you with sound notifications to get up and do that and that at a certain time but sometimes I am also on a phone call or other activity that can't be left at that very moment.
I think a better title for a poll would be "how much is your train of thoughts distracted after you come back from a break", and how long should a break be, what's the sweet spot for refreshment without interrupting your productivity. I guess everyone should find out for themselves.
[Edited at 2021-09-30 10:07 GMT]
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Liena Vijupe
Latvia
Local time: 06:29
Member (2014)
French to Latvian
+ ...
I usually find it hard to resume work after a break (unless it's very short) and am less focused if I do, so I generally try to get everything done by lunch and then continue only if I really have to or with less demanding tasks. In the afternoons I tend to work slower and have more breaks.
| | | | Kamal Idkaidek
Local time: 06:29
Member (2019)
Hebrew to English
+ ...
| Working without interruption | Sep 30, 2021 |
I work 1-2 hours then take a short break.
Usually, after 4 hours I take a long break, but as mentioned before, it depends on the text.
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