My job in Chicago began with three months of probation.

I was petrified to leave my desk.

The company provided us with two 15-minute breaks and a half hour \rfor lunch, but I wasn't having any of it. I researched, wrote and edited at \rfull throttle, without interruption, eager to prove my capacity to produce.

After six weeks, my supervisor said my probation period was done, in \rhalf the normal time. I was in!

But my body wasn't happy. I had developed severe eyestrain. I had \rconstant headaches, and the muscles in my neck and upper back were \rperpetually clenched. My stomach hurt from all the stress.

My heart wasn't happy either, since I had never really spoken to any \rof my colleagues for any length of time. The whole social dimension of \rthe job was missing.

But I had been too afraid take care of myself until I felt that my job was \rsecure.

Sound familiar? Fear is just one of the factors chain us to our desks. \rSome of us have absorbed an ethic of overwork. Or, we feel pressure to \rwork efficiently so we can get home to our families.

But experts say taking breaks can improve health and AND make us \rmore effective on the job. Here are seven reasons to get up, stretch and \rwalk during working hours:

1. YOUR BODY WILL THANK YOU.

The human body wasn't designed for sitting at a desk for hours on end. \rEyes, backs, necks, shoulders and wrists benefit when we get up and \rmove.

2. YOU'LL OPEN THE WAY FOR CREATIVITY.

Very, very few good ideas have ever come to me while I'm at my desk, \rpushing myself to finish a project. Many ideas have come during walks \rwith my dogs, or while doing light housework. Other people get flashes \rof inspiration while showering.

Something about physical activity seems to free the mind to create.

3. YOU'LL FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND YOU.

It's amazing what you can learn about your workplace while chatting \rwith colleagues over coffee.

4. YOU'LL WORK MORE EFFECTIVELY.

"Work to Live" author Joe Robinson cites several studies showing \rthat breaks improve productivity. Short intervals for relaxation allow us to \rsustain high levels of effort more of the time.

5. YOU'LL LIKE YOUR JOB MORE.

If we never pause to take stock, savor accomplishments, and maintain a \rsense of fun, it's hard to experience job satisfaction. Intense, \rprolonged time on task can squeeze the joy out work.

"One of the downsides of being eternal action figures is that we never \rarrive anywhere," Robinson writes.

6. YOU'LL REAP THE BENEFITS OF BUILDING COMMUNITY.

Many of us were raised to think the workplace would reward hard work. \rThen we were surprised to find that the workplace rewards people who \rare well liked -- regardless of whether they work the hardest.

When we take breaks for small talk, we give others a chance to know \rand like us -- and we can get to know and like them, too.

7. YOU'LL FEEL BETTER AT THE END OF THE DAY.

It's a lot easier to enjoy family time when we come home with a reserve \rof energy and without headaches or pent-up stress.

Sound too radical? It's okay to start small. You might add a five-\rminute break to your workday for a week or two and see what happens.

You may be surprised at the power of stopping to get you where you \rwant to go.

(c) Norma Schmidt, LLC

Norma Schmidt is a parent of two and a former Lutheran minister. Her \rcareer includes serving as a pastor, campus minister and cancer center \rchaplain. She has also worked with children with disabilities. Norma \roffers workshops on parenting and on living with serious illness. Her \rwriting has appeared in "Coping with Cancer" magazine. Download her \rfree report, "61 Great Ways to Teach Kids about Money¡± and look \rthrough her other articles by going to http://www.ParentCafeOnline.com