The Essential Pause: Does the Future of Work Depend on Rest?

Talking about disconnecting from work is no longer a pending conversation within companies, it has become a strategic necessity. As demands continue to multiply, taking breaks has become the most effective way to prevent burnout, protect mental health, and sustain long-term productivity. Resting is not stopping work, it is allowing people to reorganize their ideas, regain clarity, and return with greater focus and better energy.

According to our study, "Challenges and Perspectives of Work: Unveiling the Keys to Labor Evolution," conducted with PageGroup, we know that 54% of Mexican workers report experiencing some degree of job frustration, mainly due to a lack of flexibility. And as most people have reevaluated their priorities since the pandemic, insisting on rigid models that overlook rest is insisting on a paradigm that no longer works.

The study also reveals that 60% of people in Mexico changed their priorities after the pandemic, placing greater value on well-being, personal life, and mental health. This is no coincidence, considering that remote work showed we could be productive without spending hours commuting, and hybrid models demonstrated that combining focus with in-person collaboration creates balance. But it also highlighted something else: without breaks, any model becomes exhausting.

Several international organizations, such as the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization, agree that extensive workloads increase the risk of depression, anxiety, and emotional dysfunction, reaffirming that rest is an essential component of holistic team health. A study published by the National Autonomous University of Mexico shows that 26% of the population works more than 48 hours a week — hours associated with stress, depression, and suicidal ideation among young employees aged 20 to 35.¹

Having more time for personal life, managing household tasks, or simply resting has become a determining factor in satisfaction. Mexico is not an isolated case. According to PageGroup’s Talent Trends, 9 out of 10 people who started a new job are still willing to consider offers, and 6 out of 10 have changed roles since the pandemic. In other words, if a company fails to understand that quality of life is now a priority, talent will not hesitate to leave.

And this is where the pause becomes essential. The human brain is not designed to function at maximum concentration for eight uninterrupted hours. Breaks help consolidate information, avoid mistakes, generate more original ideas, improve communication, and maintain healthy workplace relationships. In fact, the main benefits attributed to in-person work, such as integration, direct communication, and interpersonal relationships, take place precisely during those in-between moments: over coffee, in the hallway, or during a brief pause.

A tired team produces less, makes more mistakes, and collaborates poorly. A rested team learns faster, adapts better, and adds more value. This is why today we see that the most successful companies are not those that demand more hours, but those that manage energy better.

Flexible spaces, such as hybrid models and coworking environments, enable exactly that: working at more natural rhythms, moving from one setting to another depending on the task, and taking intentional breaks without implying disconnection or isolation. As both studies show, the hybrid model is preferred by the majority, both for the freedom it provides and the reduction in stress.

What can we do so that our people can work better and live better at the same time? Organizations that understand this before others will not only attract talent, they will retain it, develop it, and turn it into their main competitive advantage.

Encouraging breaks, promoting reasonable schedules, designing spaces that include green areas, zones for disconnection, and real ergonomics, and allowing flexible arrangements is not an expense, it is a strategic investment. This is reflected in the preferences of Mexican talent, who prioritize offices with better conditions, privacy, green areas, and ergonomic furnishings.

The pause is already part of the future of work. What remains in our hands is to decide whether it will be part of the future of our companies.

References
Espinoza, J. C., & Sánchez Rodríguez, J. S. (2025). Impact of long working hours on mental health in Mexico. Entreciencias: Diálogos en la Sociedad del Conocimiento, 13(27), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.22201/enesl.20078064e.2025.27.91182