When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing

by Daniel H. Pink

Reach out and touch somebody—Call someone you haven’t talked to for a while and just catch up for five or ten minutes. Reawakening these “dormant ties” is also a great way to strengthen your network.3 Or use the moment to say thank you—via a note, an e-mail, or a quick visit—to someone who’s helped you. Gratitude—with its mighty combination of meaning and social connection—is a mighty restorative.4 Schedule it—Plan a regular walk or visit to a coffee joint or weekly gossip session with colleagues you like. A fringe benefit of social breaks is that you’re more likely to take one if someone else is counting on you. Or go Swedish and try what Swedes call a fika—a full-fledged coffee break that is the supposed key to Sweden’s high levels of employee satisfaction and productivity.5 Don’t schedule it—If your schedule is too tight for something regular, buy someone a coffee one day this week. Bring it to her. Sit and talk about something other than work for five minutes.