New Delhi, Aug. 30 -- Most of us like to think of breaks as little treats. They could be coffee breaks between meetings, looking at the phone after dinner, or taking a walk to get out of our heads. Science, however, makes it clear that taking breaks is not only a luxury, it is, in fact, a biological need of the brain. Regardless of whether you are slogging away in the middle of a busy day, or leisurely at home, know that short breaks can radically affect attention spans, creativity, and even emotional well-being.

The human brain is not built to sustain concentration for long periods of time. It is a highly active organ that requires about 2/10ths of the body's total energy when it's not in deep work. And when in deep focus, the brain's n...