On every project there comes a moment where an obstacle keeps you from progressing. Either you can’t figure out a design element in your gameplay, you are uninspired for a particular level design, or there is a bug you simply cannot track down. If the clock is ticking, or you are highly motivated, your inclination might be to grind the problem until a solution presents itself. While there are many situations where this is the only option (like a deadline that is hours away), if you have the ability, you should take a break. Something I’ve learned over the years is that taking a break is the best way to make progress when you’re stumped.

Everyone needs to take breaks. There are dozens of studies that prove that efficiency improves dramatically when people take regular breaks. The question, then, is when is the best time to take a break?

Many people like to use breaks as a reward. “I just need to fix this collision detection bug before I can take a break.” In my experience, this is exactly the wrong approach.

You operate most effectively when your confidence is high and you have lots of energy and mental acuity. If you don’t take a break until after you overcome your obstacle, that last grind will have neither. If you are desperate, you will try lots of really bad solutions to your problem. Rarely will any of these work, and if you had a little more confidence or clarity, you probably wouldn’t have wasted your time on those solutions in the first place.

When you hit an obstacle that you cannot figure out, that’s precisely when you should take your break. Whether it is a trip to the restroom, lunch or just a quick walk outside. Your subconscious will kick in and use your idle brain cycles to work on your solution from new angles. Your conscious, however, will be engaged in what you’re currently doing, which will give it an opportunity to rest and recuperate.

You’ll return to your issue with a sharper mind and you will very quickly come up with a solution that just works. Many times it will be so obvious that you want to kick yourself. You’ll wonder how much time you could have saved if you had only taken your break a little sooner.

For maximum efficiency, you have to consider your break times as little release valves that let you step away from a difficult problem and return to it with greater focus and efficiency. Sometimes you just need a little break to have a breakthrough.