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I think that's one of the reasons that smoking ciggarettes is such a popular addiction around the world: it's basically a breathing exercise that helps you rela

by mamon 6y ago

I think that's one of the reasons that smoking ciggarettes is such a popular addiction around the world: it's basically a breathing exercise that helps you relax.

namdnay 6y ago
I’m not sure why you’re being downvoted, I think that’s definitely partially true. The “cigarette break” becomes a sort of zen moment in the work day
- mitjak 6y ago
  it's also a (decreasingly) culturally normalized break. it can feel strange to stand still or wander about aimlessly otherwise.
  - sharadov 6y ago
    Also a great way to meet random strangers..
    - mamon 6y ago
      That's the double-edged sword however. Many "random strangers" will be homeless people who notice that you are smoking and will ask you if you have a ciggarette to spare. My ex girlfriend used to carry an empty ciggarette box for that very reason: she will show it and tell "sorry, that was the last one I had" :)
      - blackbrokkoli 6y ago
        Heaven forbid underprivileged people attempt to feel joy!
        chordalkeyboard 6y ago
        more like consuming unnecessary substances and engaging in recreational activities that you can't afford is a good way to become "underprivileged" and cigarettes aren't really going to bring much joy regardless. but there's no harm in asking. just don't expect people to answer any way other than how they choose to answer.
      - sharadov 6y ago
        My experience has always been the opposite, it's the well heeled guy/gal who has had one too many drinks and wants to bum a smoke. Go, buy a pack, not giving you any! But if a homeless guy asked, always gave one.
  - tacocataco 6y ago
    It's a culturally normalized narcotic.
    - rriepe 6y ago
      The downvoting, or the smoking?
  - zimpenfish 6y ago
    Back in the dim and distant days of offices, we used tea breaks for similar, albeit internal, breaks.
  - ziml77 6y ago
    Definitely won't work everywhere, but stepping out for a coffee is how I take a break. (Though it's usually iced tea instead of coffee for me.) Can also just take a walk. It's aimless, but still good for the mind.
    - vram22 6y ago
      >It's aimless, but still good for the mind. It's because it's aimless that it's good for the mind. Or rather, good for you (because you are not the mind), because you get a break from your "crazy monkey mind"[1]. "You" meaning anyone who does it, not literally you, of course. [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_mind https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_mind Also see YouTube videos by Tibetan Buddhist monk Mingyur Rinpoche such as "Calming the Mind". In that video he shares a great insight right near the start, which proves that everyone has awareness, even if they think they don't. Watch "Mingyur Rinpoche ~ Calming the Mind: The Practice of Awareness Meditation" on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dG5ywz8OGqo https://youtu.be/dG5ywz8OGqo
system16 6y ago
Haven't been a smoker for a decade now and don't miss it, but what I do miss are those breaks and the bonds developed chatting with smoker colleagues during them. Discussions both work and non-work related seemed to come about more freely outside the confines of the office, and solutions to more than one technical issue came up during those breaks through bouncing ideas off of each other.
- bonestamp2 6y ago
  At our office, we started doing "stair climbs" mid morning and mid afternoon. We got a small bell and whoever got to the bell first would ring the bell and then head to the front door. Anyone who was free and wanted to join would join at the sound of the bell. It was simple, no pressure to join, most people can't join everytime anyway so that was totally acceptable. Some days it wouldn't happen at all, but it was always good to try to break free and make it happen. Most of the time it was a group of 2-5 people. When the group was only 2 or 3 people it often became similar to a smoke break where you could have a good discussion as you climbed up/down the full set of stairs. The beauty of it was that almost everybody felt comfortable participating in it. If you have non-ambulatory coworkers who want to participate, perhaps a walk would be better. Management also liked it better than smoke breaks because they were always trying to lower health insurance costs so it was beneficial to encourage people to be more healthy. Our building is 12 stories, so 1 complete up/down was pretty good and even the less healthy people could do it well after a few tries. If you're on a middle floor, go up/down/up (or the reverse) until you get back to your floor. If your building is taller/shorter then you may want to adjust the number of cycles. People who get tired can always exit at any floor and take the elevator back, but peer pressure usually pushes most people to exceed their comfort limit a little bit. It was also a great team bonding experience because everyone wanted the whole team to make it and it was exciting when someone new joined or when you saw someone's physical ability improve. It's still not a smoke break, but it's the next best thing I've found... other than maybe grabbing a coffee/tea with someone.

by mamon 6y ago

I think that's one of the reasons that smoking ciggarettes is such a popular addiction around the world: it's basically a breathing exercise that helps you relax.

namdnay 6y ago

I’m not sure why you’re being downvoted, I think that’s definitely partially true. The “cigarette break” becomes a sort of zen moment in the work day

mitjak 6y ago
it's also a (decreasingly) culturally normalized break. it can feel strange to stand still or wander about aimlessly otherwise.
- sharadov 6y ago
  Also a great way to meet random strangers..
  - mamon 6y ago
    That's the double-edged sword however. Many "random strangers" will be homeless people who notice that you are smoking and will ask you if you have a ciggarette to spare. My ex girlfriend used to carry an empty ciggarette box for that very reason: she will show it and tell "sorry, that was the last one I had" :)
    - blackbrokkoli 6y ago
      Heaven forbid underprivileged people attempt to feel joy!
      - chordalkeyboard 6y ago
        more like consuming unnecessary substances and engaging in recreational activities that you can't afford is a good way to become "underprivileged" and cigarettes aren't really going to bring much joy regardless. but there's no harm in asking. just don't expect people to answer any way other than how they choose to answer.
    - sharadov 6y ago
      My experience has always been the opposite, it's the well heeled guy/gal who has had one too many drinks and wants to bum a smoke. Go, buy a pack, not giving you any! But if a homeless guy asked, always gave one.
- tacocataco 6y ago
  It's a culturally normalized narcotic.
  - rriepe 6y ago
    The downvoting, or the smoking?
- zimpenfish 6y ago
  Back in the dim and distant days of offices, we used tea breaks for similar, albeit internal, breaks.
- ziml77 6y ago
  Definitely won't work everywhere, but stepping out for a coffee is how I take a break. (Though it's usually iced tea instead of coffee for me.) Can also just take a walk. It's aimless, but still good for the mind.
  - vram22 6y ago
    >It's aimless, but still good for the mind. It's because it's aimless that it's good for the mind. Or rather, good for you (because you are not the mind), because you get a break from your "crazy monkey mind"[1]. "You" meaning anyone who does it, not literally you, of course. [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_mind https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_mind Also see YouTube videos by Tibetan Buddhist monk Mingyur Rinpoche such as "Calming the Mind". In that video he shares a great insight right near the start, which proves that everyone has awareness, even if they think they don't. Watch "Mingyur Rinpoche ~ Calming the Mind: The Practice of Awareness Meditation" on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dG5ywz8OGqo https://youtu.be/dG5ywz8OGqo

system16 6y ago

Haven't been a smoker for a decade now and don't miss it, but what I do miss are those breaks and the bonds developed chatting with smoker colleagues during them. Discussions both work and non-work related seemed to come about more freely outside the confines of the office, and solutions to more than one technical issue came up during those breaks through bouncing ideas off of each other.

bonestamp2 6y ago
At our office, we started doing "stair climbs" mid morning and mid afternoon. We got a small bell and whoever got to the bell first would ring the bell and then head to the front door. Anyone who was free and wanted to join would join at the sound of the bell. It was simple, no pressure to join, most people can't join everytime anyway so that was totally acceptable. Some days it wouldn't happen at all, but it was always good to try to break free and make it happen. Most of the time it was a group of 2-5 people. When the group was only 2 or 3 people it often became similar to a smoke break where you could have a good discussion as you climbed up/down the full set of stairs. The beauty of it was that almost everybody felt comfortable participating in it. If you have non-ambulatory coworkers who want to participate, perhaps a walk would be better. Management also liked it better than smoke breaks because they were always trying to lower health insurance costs so it was beneficial to encourage people to be more healthy. Our building is 12 stories, so 1 complete up/down was pretty good and even the less healthy people could do it well after a few tries. If you're on a middle floor, go up/down/up (or the reverse) until you get back to your floor. If your building is taller/shorter then you may want to adjust the number of cycles. People who get tired can always exit at any floor and take the elevator back, but peer pressure usually pushes most people to exceed their comfort limit a little bit. It was also a great team bonding experience because everyone wanted the whole team to make it and it was exciting when someone new joined or when you saw someone's physical ability improve. It's still not a smoke break, but it's the next best thing I've found... other than maybe grabbing a coffee/tea with someone.