Don’t Make Training Breaks a Guessing Game

Are your training sessions turning into a death march to the next break?

Too often, long sessions turn into a war of attrition. Who’s gonna crack first? The trainer or the trainees?

Think about it. You’re the trainer and you’re on a roll…talking and talking and talking. People are overwhelmed by the firehose of information, but reluctant to interrupt you to ask for the break they desperately need. So they hang in there, praying for you to stop. When you don’t, they mentally check out, missing critical knowledge that will keep them safe on the job.

Give them a Break. And Tell Them Upfront When It Will Be.

Don’t make breaks a guessing game! If trainees know when the next break is coming, they’ll focus much better on what you’re teaching right now.

My rule is a 10-minute break every hour. This means 50 minutes of training, then a break for 10 minutes. Then, another 50 minutes of training. Then another 10-minute break. On and on like clockwork.

I make this schedule very clear up front when we go over the class agenda, so they know exactly what to expect.

Anticipating Breaks Helps Learners Focus

When people are in lengthy training sessions, they get anxious about being away from their regular work. If they’re worried about missing a critical email or text, they’re distracted and don’t fully participate.

When they know they’ll have a ten-minute break to check in every hour, they relax and engage.

Breaks Are Good for You As Well

Regular and frequent breaks are just as important for the trainer. You’ve been working hard for the last 50 minutes. Use that ten minutes of break time to rejuvenate yourself. Take a short walk. Sit in a quiet corner and put your feet up. Reflect on the previous 50 minutes and plan adjustments as needed.

A Ten-Minute Refresh Helps Seat the Training

Brain science studies recently revealed that a ten-minute break after learning offers huge benefits in helping move new learning from the learner’s short-term memory to long-term memory. Your learners may look like they’re resting, but their brains are still working on what you’ve just taught them.

Pro Tip

Try posing a puzzle or riddle for people to solve over each break. These are incredibly popular! One time when I forgot, my trainees called me up short, asking “Hey, what’s the riddle?!”

Puzzles get people thinking with a different part of the brain and help clear their heads. Plus, a bit of competition spices up the class and lets people show off their smarts.

After the Break: Tee Up the Next Round for Success

After each break, I say: “Welcome back, everybody. Please close your laptops, put away your phones and give me your full attention for the next 50 minutes.”

People go along with this request because we’re showing respect for each other. By giving them breaks, I show that I understand they need to check in with work. And by complying with my request, they show that they understand I have a job to do in training them.

Small, Regular Breaks. Big Impact.

I can’t tell you how many people have commented on my break schedule. When I call a break, it’s not uncommon for someone to say “Wow! Already?! That went by fast.” They often thank me in-person after class or mention the breaks in their post-training evaluations.

If you follow this easy plan, I guarantee that your trainees will thank you, too. And you’ll see your evaluation scores increase!