This Vending Machine Gives You Free Chocolate

My two favorite words in the world are "chocolate" and "free." So you can imagine my euphoria when I discovered the existence of Kit Kat's "Break Machine." Unfortunately, the bubble of my happiness was then callously popped when further research showed that it's only available in Paraguay. It's a cruel world out there, kids.

Working with marketing agency Nasta, the stunt was created in honor of Kit Kat's slogan, "Have a break, have a Kit Kat." According to Design Taxi, the Break Machine is located in front of a bench containing sensors designed to detect movement. When anyone sitting on the bench chills out for at least a minute, the vending machine gloriously bestows free Kit Kats upon them. Presumably, this is also accompanied by a choir of angels, as are all gifts of free chocolate, but there's no official record of this so far.

The machine's brief lifetime was captured on video and uploaded to YouTube, in case you forgot that it was a marketing ploy. Despite the nature of the project, it's still pretty cute to watch people sit down to enjoy life in the middle of their busy schedule. Plus, watching someone get free chocolate is basically the same as getting it yourself, right?

In honor of the Break Machine, let's take a look at some of the benefits of taking a break, with or without the prospect of free chocolate.

1. They Help You Focus

In college, none of my friends ever believed me when I tried to persuade them to take breaks during all-nighters. Instead, they preferred to work themselves into a half-dead zombie state by 4 a.m. and churn out gibberish. However, research indicates that even a 15-20 minute break can improve your focus at work.

2. They Get You Moving

Hopefully, you're already aware that sitting down all day isn't exactly the route to physical fitness. If you work in an office, though, taking a break means getting up every once in a while. Plus, you can check out that cute new IT employee on your way to coffee. It's a win-win.

3. They Reduce Eye Strain

As amazing as the Internet may be, computers simply aren't good for our eyes. All that blue light causes eyestrain, which is why experts recommend the 20-20-20 rule: Take a break every 20 minutes, for 20 seconds, to focus on something 20 feet away.

4. They Improve Mindfulness

Mindfulness has all sorts of benefits, from reducing anxiety to better sleep, and breaks are a chance to get some meditation in.

5. They Keep Us From Getting Bored

Boredom increases creativity, but your boss probably doesn't appreciate your office doodles as much as your coworkers. Routine breaks prevent boredom, keeping you and your boss happy — although your work BFF might miss your flirtations with artistry.

Images: Kodamakitty/Flickr; Giphy (5)