Taking a Focused Break at Work | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At work, two adults pause spreadsheet work to take a short focused break and return with a clearer plan..

EN → ES / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Taking a Focused Break at Work to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Llevo casi dos horas mirando esta hoja de cálculo.

YEH-boh KAH-see dohs OH-rahs mee-RAHN-doh EH-stah OH-hah deh KAL-koo-loh. I have been staring at this spreadsheet for almost two hours.
B

Probablemente estás perdiendo la concentración, aunque sigas esforzándote.

proh-bah-BLEH-mehn-teh eh-STAS pehr-dee-EHN-doh lah kohn-sehn-trah-SYOHN, AHN-keh SEE-gahs ehs-fohr-SAHN-doh-teh. Your focus is probably fading, even if you keep pushing.
A

Siento los ojos cansados, pero quería terminar antes del almuerzo.

SYEHN-toh lohs OH-hohs kahn-SAH-dohs, PEH-roh keh-REE-ah tehr-mee-NAHR AHN-tehs dehl ahl-MWEHR-soh. My eyes feel tired, but I wanted to finish before lunch.
B

Un descanso breve podría ayudarte a terminar más rápido después.

oon dehs-KAHN-soh BREH-beh poh-DREE-ah ah-yoo-DAHR-teh ah tehr-mee-NAHR mahs RAH-pee-doh dehs-PWEHS. A short break might help you finish faster afterward.
A

Tal vez debería estirarme y tomar agua en vez de mirar el teléfono.

tahl behs deh-beh-REE-ah ehs-tee-RAHR-meh ee toh-MAHR AH-gwah ehn behs deh mee-RAHR ehl teh-LEH-foh-noh. Maybe I should stretch and get water instead of checking my phone.
B

Eso ayudaría a que tus ojos y tu cuerpo descansaran bien.

EH-soh ah-yoo-dah-REE-ah ah keh toos OH-hohs ee too KWEHR-poh dehs-kahn-SAH-rahn BYEHN. That would help your eyes and body rest properly.
A

Tomemos un descanso breve y volvamos con un plan más claro.

toh-MEH-mohs oon dehs-KAHN-soh BREH-beh ee bohl-BAH-mohs kohn oon plahn mahs KLAH-roh. Let's take a short break and come back with a clearer plan.
B

Cuando volvamos, podemos revisar solo las filas con problemas.

KWAHN-doh bohl-BAH-mohs poh-DEH-mohs reh-bee-SAHR SOH-loh lahs FEE-lahs kohn proh-BLEH-mahs. When we return, we can review only the problem rows.
A

Eso suena más concentrado que obligarme a seguir con todo.

EH-soh SWEH-nah mahs kohn-sehn-TRAH-doh keh oh-blee-GAHR-meh ah seh-GEER kohn TOH-doh. That sounds more focused than forcing myself through everything.
B

Entonces pongamos un temporizador y empecemos primero por esas filas.

ehn-TOHN-sehs pohn-GAH-mohs oon tehm-poh-ree-sah-DOHR ee ehn-peh-SEH-mohs pree-MEH-roh pohr EH-sahs FEE-lahs. Then let's set a timer and start with those rows first.

Word by Word

Llevo In Llevo casi dos horas mirando esta hoja de cálculo, Llevo says that the speaker has spent almost two hours doing something. A reusable pattern is Llevo + a period of time + an ongoing activity. Use it when reporting how long you have been engaged in an activity.
casi casi means almost and places the stated amount just below the full amount. Here it modifies the two hours spent looking at the spreadsheet. A reusable pattern is casi + number or quantity, such as almost three days. Use it when an amount or point is nearly reached.
horas horas means hours, the unit of time measured in the sentence. Its plural form is used because the period is almost two hours. A reusable pattern is a number + horas for stating duration. Use it when describing how long an activity lasts.
mirando mirando means looking at and presents the activity that has continued during the stated period. It appears after Llevo with the time expression. A reusable pattern is llevar + time expression + ongoing activity. Use it when explaining that you have been looking at, working on, or doing something for a period of time.
esta esta means this and identifies the particular spreadsheet being viewed. It appears directly before hoja de cálculo. A reusable pattern is esta + singular noun when pointing to a nearby or relevant thing. Use it when selecting one specific item.
hoja de cálculo hoja de cálculo means spreadsheet. In this expression, hoja contributes the idea of a sheet, de links the parts, and cálculo identifies calculation; together they name the document used for calculations. A reusable pattern is mirar or trabajar con + hoja de cálculo. Use it when discussing spreadsheet work.
Probablemente Probablemente means probably and presents the following idea as likely rather than certain. Here it introduces the suggestion that the listener is losing concentration. A reusable pattern is Probablemente + clause. Use it when giving a cautious assessment about a current situation.
estás estás says that the person addressed is currently in a state or carrying out an activity. Here it combines with perdiendo to describe an ongoing loss of concentration. A reusable pattern is estar + ongoing activity. Use it when describing what someone is doing or experiencing now.
perdiendo perdiendo means losing and presents the loss of concentration as a process in progress. It follows estás in the sentence. A reusable pattern is estar + perdiendo + something for an ongoing loss. Use it when attention, time, control, or another thing is gradually being lost.
la la marks concentración as a specific singular noun: the focus or concentration being discussed. Its form goes with concentración in la concentración. A reusable pattern is la + singular noun when referring to a particular feminine noun. Use it when identifying a specific thing already relevant in the conversation.
concentración concentración means focus or concentration, the mental ability that is fading in this dialogue. It is the thing being lost in perdiendo la concentración. A reusable pattern is mantener or perder + concentración. Use it when discussing attention during work or another demanding activity.
aunque aunque introduces a concession, meaning although or even if. Here it connects the fading focus with the continued effort, showing that continuing to push does not prevent the problem. A reusable pattern is aunque + clause. Use it when adding a condition or fact that does not change the main result.
sigas sigas means you continue in the clause siga esforzándote, referring to the listener's continuing effort. It appears after aunque to place that continuation inside the concession. A reusable pattern is aunque + someone + continues doing something. Use it when acknowledging an action that continues despite another result.
esforzándote esforzándote means making an effort or pushing yourself, referring to the person addressed. The attached te makes the effort refer back to that person. A reusable pattern is continue or keep + making an effort when describing sustained work. Use it when someone is trying hard to complete a task.
Siento Siento means I feel and introduces the speaker's physical sensation. Here it says that the speaker experiences the eyes as tired. A reusable pattern is Siento + body part + adjective. Use it when reporting how a part of your body feels.
los los marks ojos as specific plural nouns: the eyes being discussed. Its plural form matches ojos in los ojos. A reusable pattern is los + plural noun when referring to particular masculine plural things. Use it when identifying specific items or body parts.
ojos ojos means eyes, the body part that feels tired in this sentence. It appears as the object connected with Siento. A reusable pattern is sentir + los ojos + description for reporting eye discomfort or tiredness. Use it when talking about visual strain or how your eyes feel.
cansados cansados means tired and describes the eyes in los ojos cansados. Its plural form matches ojos. A reusable pattern is a noun + adjective when describing a condition. Use it when reporting that people or body parts feel tired.
pero pero means but and connects two contrasting ideas. Here tired eyes are contrasted with the speaker's wish to finish before lunch. A reusable pattern is statement + pero + contrasting statement. Use it when acknowledging one fact before adding a different or opposing point.
quería quería expresses a past desire or intention: the speaker wanted to finish before lunch. It explains the reason for continuing despite tired eyes. A reusable pattern is quería + infinitive for describing a past intention. Use it when explaining what you intended or hoped to do.
terminar terminar means to finish and names the action the speaker wanted to complete. It follows quería in quería terminar. A reusable pattern is querer + infinitive. Use it when talking about wanting to complete a task or activity.
antes antes means before and places one event earlier than another. Here it introduces the time limit before lunch. A reusable pattern is antes de + noun or activity. Use it when setting an earlier deadline or sequence.
del del means of the or before the in this sentence and joins de with el before almuerzo. It appears in antes del almuerzo to express the time before lunch. A reusable pattern is antes del + singular noun. Use it when referring to an event that happens before a specific thing.
almuerzo almuerzo means lunch, the meal used as the time reference in the sentence. The speaker wanted to finish before this meal. A reusable pattern is before or after + lunch when arranging activities around the midday meal. Use it when discussing a work or daily schedule.
Un Un means a or one and introduces one short break as a possible solution. It appears before descanso in Un descanso breve. A reusable pattern is un + singular noun when introducing one item or event. Use it when suggesting or mentioning a single break, task, or object.
descanso descanso means break or rest, referring here to a short pause from spreadsheet work. It appears with breve and later in the proposal to take a break. A reusable pattern is tomar or take + un descanso. Use it when suggesting a pause from work or another activity.
breve breve means short or brief and describes the duration of the break. It modifies descanso in un descanso breve. A reusable pattern is noun + breve for describing a brief event or period. Use it when proposing a pause that will not last long.
podría podría means might or could and presents the break as a possible way to help. It makes the suggestion less definite and more tentative. A reusable pattern is podría + infinitive for proposing a possible result or action. Use it when offering a polite suggestion.
ayudarte ayudarte means help you, with the attached te identifying the person who would receive the help. In ayudarte a terminar, the help is directed toward finishing faster. A reusable pattern is ayudar a alguien a + infinitive. Use it when describing something that assists another person with a particular action.
a a links ayudarte to the action terminar in ayudarte a terminar. It introduces the action that the help makes easier or possible. A reusable pattern is ayudar a + infinitive. Use it when explaining what someone or something helps another person do.
más más means more and increases the degree of rápido in más rápido. Together they describe finishing at a greater speed. A reusable pattern is más + adjective or adverb for comparison. Use it when saying that an action is done to a greater degree or at a higher speed.
rápido rápido means faster or quickly here and describes the speed of finishing after the break. It appears with más in más rápido. A reusable pattern is terminar más rápido for saying that a task is completed in less time. Use it when comparing the speed of two ways of working.
después después means afterward or later and places the faster finishing after the break. It refers to a later point in the work sequence. A reusable pattern is después de + noun or activity. Use it when describing what happens later.
Tal Tal contributes to the expression Tal vez, which means maybe in this sentence. Together, the expression introduces the speaker's possible suggestion about stretching and getting water. A reusable pattern is Tal vez + clause. Use it when presenting an idea or action as a possibility.
en vez de en vez de means instead of and marks the alternative chosen in the sentence. Within the expression, en contributes the relation of being in place of, vez contributes the idea of an alternative turn or option, and de introduces what is replaced; together they contrast stretching and getting water with looking at the phone. A reusable pattern is en vez de + noun or infinitive. Use it when choosing one action rather than another.
debería debería means should and presents stretching as what the speaker thinks would be advisable. It introduces the speaker's proposed action before estirarme. A reusable pattern is debería + infinitive. Use it when giving yourself or someone else gentle advice.
estirarme estirarme means stretch myself, referring to a physical action the speaker may take during the break. The attached me makes the action refer to the speaker. A reusable pattern is debería + physical-action infinitive. Use it when suggesting a stretch as a response to physical tiredness.
y y means and and links the two proposed actions estirarme and tomar agua. It presents them as actions to do together. A reusable pattern is action A + y + action B. Use it when joining two related actions or ideas.
tomar tomar means to take or have, and in tomar agua it refers to having or drinking water during the break. It is coordinated with estirarme by y. A reusable pattern is tomar + drink or food noun. Use it when describing having a drink or consuming something.
agua agua means water, the drink mentioned as part of the break. It is the object of tomar in tomar agua. A reusable pattern is tomar agua for saying that someone has or drinks water. Use it when suggesting hydration during work or another activity.
el el marks teléfono as a specific singular noun: the phone being checked. Its form goes with teléfono in el teléfono. A reusable pattern is el + singular noun when referring to a particular masculine singular thing. Use it when identifying a specific object in the conversation.
teléfono teléfono means phone, the object the speaker considers looking at instead of taking a focused break. It appears in mirar el teléfono. A reusable pattern is mirar el teléfono for talking about checking or looking at a phone. Use it when discussing phone use during work.
Eso Eso means that and points back to the preceding idea of stretching and getting water. It makes that whole proposed action the subject of ayudaría. A reusable pattern is Eso + verb for reacting to a previously mentioned idea. Use it when referring back to a suggestion or situation.
ayudaría ayudaría means would help and presents the proposed actions as having a possible beneficial effect. Here the effect is that the eyes and body would rest properly. A reusable pattern is Eso ayudaría a que + clause for describing a possible result. Use it when explaining how an action could improve a situation.
que que introduces the clause describing the result after ayudaría a. Here it introduces what the eyes and body would do. A reusable pattern is ayudaría a que + clause. Use it when linking a possible helpful action to its result.
tus tus means your and identifies the listener's eyes as belonging to or being associated with that person. Its plural form matches ojos in tus ojos. A reusable pattern is tus + plural noun. Use it when referring to several things connected with the person addressed.
tu tu means your and identifies the listener's body as belonging to or being associated with that person. Its singular form appears before cuerpo in tu cuerpo. A reusable pattern is tu + singular noun. Use it when referring to one thing connected with the person addressed.
cuerpo cuerpo means body, which together with the eyes is said to need proper rest. It appears as the second subject of descansaran. A reusable pattern is descansar + body part or body for describing physical recovery. Use it when discussing physical tiredness or rest.
descansaran descansaran describes the possible result that the eyes and body would rest. It appears in the clause introduced by ayudaría a que. A reusable pattern is ayudar a que + people or body parts + rest. Use it when explaining that a change could allow someone or something to recover.
bien bien means well or properly and describes how the eyes and body would rest. It modifies descansaran in descansaran bien. A reusable pattern is verb + bien for describing an action done properly or successfully. Use it when talking about the quality of rest or performance.
Tomemos Tomemos means let's take and proposes a shared action for the speaker and listener. Here it introduces the joint decision to take a short break. A reusable pattern is Tomemos + noun for suggesting that both people take or have something. Use it when making a direct, cooperative suggestion.
volvamos volvamos means let's come back and proposes returning together after the break. In volvamos con un plan más claro, it connects the return with the improved plan they hope to have. A reusable pattern is volvamos + with + noun for saying that people will return with something. Use it when planning to resume work after a pause.
con con means with and links the return to the plan the speakers will have afterward. In volvamos con un plan más claro, it presents the plan as accompanying their return. A reusable pattern is volver or return + con + noun. Use it when describing returning with an object, idea, or result.
plan plan means plan, referring to the clearer approach the speakers will use after the break. It appears with más claro to describe its improved quality. A reusable pattern is tener or crear + un plan. Use it when organizing the next steps of work.
claro claro means clear and describes the plan as easier to understand or follow. It appears with más in más claro, meaning clearer. A reusable pattern is más + claro when comparing two plans or explanations. Use it when describing improved organization or understanding.
Cuando Cuando means when and introduces the time condition for the next action. Here it marks the point at which the speakers return. A reusable pattern is Cuando + clause, followed by the planned result. Use it when connecting an action to the time it will happen.
podemos podemos means we can and expresses the shared possibility or ability to review the rows. It is followed by revisar in podemos revisar. A reusable pattern is podemos + infinitive. Use it when proposing what a group is able or ready to do.
revisar revisar means to review and names the work the speakers can do after returning. It follows podemos in podemos revisar. A reusable pattern is poder + infinitive. Use it when discussing checking documents, tasks, or details.
solo solo means only and limits the review to the problem rows. It narrows the amount of work the speakers plan to do. A reusable pattern is solo + noun or action phrase. Use it when excluding everything that is not part of the immediate priority.
las las marks filas as specific plural nouns: the rows already identified as having problems. Its plural form matches filas in las filas. A reusable pattern is las + plural noun when referring to particular feminine plural things. Use it when selecting specific items from a larger group.
filas filas means rows, specifically the rows in the spreadsheet that need attention. It appears in filas con problemas. A reusable pattern is revisar + filas when discussing spreadsheet work. Use it when referring to horizontal entries in a table or spreadsheet.
problemas problemas means problems and identifies the condition of the rows in filas con problemas. The phrase means rows with problems, not all the rows. A reusable pattern is noun + con + problems or another issue. Use it when specifying which items need correction.
suena suena means sounds and gives an impression or evaluation of the proposed approach. Here it introduces the judgment that the approach is more focused. A reusable pattern is suena + adjective. Use it when saying how an idea, plan, or explanation seems.
concentrado concentrado means focused and describes the proposed approach as directed toward a narrower task. It appears with más in más concentrado. A reusable pattern is suena más + adjective for evaluating an approach. Use it when a plan avoids distractions and concentrates on a priority.
obligarme obligarme means forcing myself, with the attached me showing that the speaker would impose the action on themself. In obligarme a seguir con todo, the speaker would make themself continue with everything. A reusable pattern is obligarse a + infinitive. Use it when describing self-imposed pressure to continue an action.
seguir seguir means to continue and describes continuing with the whole task after obligarme. It appears in seguir con todo. A reusable pattern is seguir con + task or activity. Use it when saying that someone keeps working on something already underway.
todo todo means everything or all of it and refers here to the entire spreadsheet task. In seguir con todo, it contrasts with reviewing only the problem rows. A reusable pattern is con todo for referring to the whole set of work or items. Use it when describing an undivided task or complete workload.
Entonces Entonces means then and draws a practical conclusion from the preceding discussion. Here it introduces the next shared action: setting a timer and starting with the selected rows. A reusable pattern is Entonces + proposal or decision. Use it when moving from a conclusion to the next step.
pongamos pongamos means let's set or put and proposes a shared action. In pongamos un temporizador, it means setting a timer together. A reusable pattern is pongamos + object when suggesting that a group place or set something. Use it when organizing the next step of an activity.
temporizador temporizador means timer, the tool used to control the length of the next work period. It is the object of pongamos. A reusable pattern is poner or set + un temporizador. Use it when scheduling a focused period or a reminder.
empecemos empecemos means let's start and proposes beginning the next task together. Here it introduces the problem rows as the starting point. A reusable pattern is empecemos por + item. Use it when organizing the order of work.
primero primero means first and emphasizes the order in which the rows will be reviewed. It appears with empecemos and por esas filas. A reusable pattern is empezar primero por + item. Use it when identifying the highest-priority starting point.
por por marks the starting point in empecemos primero por esas filas, meaning that those rows are where the review will begin. A reusable pattern is empezar por + item. Use it when choosing the first task, section, or item to handle.
esas esas means those and points to the rows mentioned immediately before as problem rows. Its plural form matches filas in esas filas. A reusable pattern is esas + plural noun when referring back to identified items. Use it when selecting things that have already been mentioned.

Grammar Points

llevar + gerundio

Llevo casi una hora mirando la hoja de cálculo.

YEH-boh KAH-see OO-nah OH-rah mee-RAHN-doh lah OH-hah deh KAL-koo-loh.

I have been looking at the spreadsheet for almost an hour.

Llevar en presente + gerundio expresa cuánto tiempo ha durado una acción que continúa.

aunque + subjuntivo

Aunque sigas esforzándote, podrías perder la concentración.

AHN-keh SEE-gahs ehs-fohr-SAHN-doh-teh, poh-DREE-ahs pehr-DEHR lah kohn-sehn-trah-SYOHN.

Although you keep making an effort, you might lose focus.

Aunque + subjuntivo presenta una situación posible o un obstáculo, no un hecho afirmado.

Spanish Vocabulary

aunque conj
AHN-keh although; even if
casi adv
KAH-see almost
concentración noun
kohn-sehn-trah-SYOHN focus; concentration
esforzarse verb
ehs-fohr-SAHR-seh to make an effort; to work hard esforzándote
hoja de cálculo phrase
OH-hah deh KAL-koo-loh spreadsheet
hora noun
OH-rah hour horas
llevar verb
yeh-BAHR to have been doing something for a period of time Llevo
mirar verb
mee-RAHR to look at mirando
ojo noun
OH-hoh eye ojos
perder verb
pehr-DEHR to lose perdiendo
seguir verb
seh-GEER to continue; to keep sigas
sentir verb
sehn-TEER to feel Siento

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to lose

Show Answerperdiendo

although; even if

Show Answeraunque

to have been doing something for a period of time

Show AnswerLlevo

almost

Show Answercasi