Here are addition benefits of taking an intentional break from your workspace every day: In a survey by Tork, 90% of North American employees claim that taking a break helps them feel refreshed and ready to get back to work. That’s a lot of brain work and it’s important to give yourself and your mind a break throughout your workday. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for logical thinking, executive functioning, and using willpower to override impulses. If you’re a knowledge worker, then you participate in “think-work” which means your prefrontal cortex-the thinking part of your brain-is constantly at work while you are. It’s that mid-morning or mid-afternoon break with a social twist.” The Benefits Of Fika, Or A Daily Break “Fika to me is the smell of cinnamon and black filter coffee. Product marketing manager of Trello, Jordan Mirchev, who is originally from Sweden and now lives in Spain, says: And Swedes explain that they love the relaxed, no pressure expectations of the daily coffee break. “Fika is a way of meeting people, spending time with people over coffee and bread.” One of the interviewees in fika - to have coffee explains: Fika is typically enjoyed at a café with friends or colleagues over a cup of coffee and a pastry. Along with Norway and Denmark, Sweden is on the top 10 list of largest coffee-consuming nations in the world.īut the focus isn’t solely on the drink and food-it’s all about the company and camaraderie. The consumption numbers themselves prove that coffee is popular in this Nordic country. The word “fika” derives from the 19th-century, Swedish slang word for coffee: kaffi. In the first episode, they explain fika as “a part of everyday life,” “an institution,” and even “a Swedish religion.” The popular ritual is viewed in 6 parts with interviews of Swedish citizens and expats. In the web documentary series, fika - to have coffee, Fabian Schmid, the creator of the series, explores this small but essential part of Swedish day-to-day life. Even though Swedes are working harder and longer than previous generations, fika has remained a strong pillar in the days and lives of its citizens. The country has one of the most generous parental leave and subsidized childcare policies in the world workers are guaranteed at least five weeks of vacation flexible working is considered the norm in many companies.ĭespite these envy-inducing benefits, Swedish workers are reporting feelings of burnout and stress-related illnesses too. Sweden is considered one of the top champions for a healthy work-life balance. Self-care falls low on the priority list and burnout is officially considered a syndrome that results from extreme workplace stress, according to the World Health Organization. If you asked the modern knowledge worker how they’re doing, their response is most likely: “I’m so busy.” According to an article in The Atlantic, employees have reported historic levels of stress, distractions, and feeling overworked. It’s an intentional pause in the day for socialization and relaxation and a routine we should all adopt, especially at work. It’s not an activity that Swedes schedule on their calendars-it’s ingrained in their culture and way of life. Fika (pronounced “fee-kah” for us non-Swedish speakers), doesn’t have a direct translation but refers to “a coffee break”-although it’s so much more than that.

It’s that immediate shift into overdrive so you can cruise through your mile-long to-do list. Coffee, especially in Western and American cultures, is a means to an end. If you’re anything like me, you most likely grab your morning coffee and only notice your surroundings as you rush out of the coffee shop to get to the office or to your next meeting.

When was the last time you sat in a local café sipping your favorite cup of coffee and absorbing the hubbub of the room?ĭid you take note of your sensory surroundings? The hustle of the cafe workers, the buzz of conversation in the air, or the clanking of utensils.

Coffee break social blade