Can a 30-minute masturbation break be the unexpected fix for everyday work stress?

Because maybe all we need is orgasms during office hours?

31 July, 2025

Can a 30-minute masturbation break be the unexpected fix for everyday work stress?

The COVID-19 lockdown was a stressful time for us all. People were falling sick, some even fatally, job security was on the line, productivity was at a halt, and the list of stressors just kept growing. Naturally, social media became our go-to for external social support, flooding us with suggestions on how to cope with the stress—yoga, meditation, banana bread, DIY skincare, you name it. But never once did we think that masturbation breaks would be the ultimate stress buster.

But, that's exactly what Erika Lust of Erika Lust Films is promoting to boost productivity and "relieve stress and agitation". "In 2021, a year into the pandemic, I started noticing my team and myself struggling. Years of pandemic life had started to take their toll on us. We were less focused, more agitated, and overall more anxious," she noted in her blog post. And what started as a fun little experiment during Masturbation Month (also real) turned into a permanent policy.

Now here's the thing, we’re all for having more conversations around sex and self-pleasure, in fact, we firmly encourage them. The idea behind this policy isn’t completely off, especially when it comes to stress relief, body positivity, and normalising intimate experiences, even with oneself. But there's no way this policy would even be considered in a regular corporate workspace. Like, ever.

Imagine the awkwardness when the HR manager announces that the conference room is now a “pleasure pod” from 3 to 3:30 pm. Or a colleague sending a “brb” text on the work group before heading off for a quick break (immediate ick). It's giving more weirdness than wellness.

And it’s not just about logistics—although, seriously, where would people even go? What would that room even be called? And why would anyone want to use that space after the deed is done? But beyond all that, it’s really about boundaries. Work is already awkward enough, with male coworkers burping loudly after lunch (why?) or random work groups huddling near your desk for loud, mindless chatter like it's the office water cooler. Adding orgasms to the mix just feels wrong. Not everyone wants to know if a coworker just had a solo session in the middle of the day. Frankly, not everyone would feel comfortable working in an environment where that’s even on the table.

Plus, it opens up a whole ethical can of worms. Consent, comfort levels, power dynamics—there’s way too much room for things to go sideways. What about the weirdness that comes from knowing it’s happening down the hall? What if someone feels pressured to participate because it’s “part of the culture”? It’s not edgy or bold; more of a minefield, if anyone's asking.

There are so many better ways to help employees manage stress, and that does not involve turning the office into some kind of oddly progressive pleasure dome. Give us mental health days instead. Let us log off early once in a while. Cancel the unnecessary Zooms. The option to take menstrual leave. Bring in therapy dogs. Or better yet, if you want to give us breaks, why not nap breaks with the nap pods like in Japan? Literally anything else would be better, more comfortable, and more relaxing than this solution that no one asked for.

Yes, work can be exhausting. But we’d still rather deal with burnout the old-fashioned way—with snacks, memes, and rage-texting our group chats. Not whatever this is supposed to be.

Lead image credit: Pexels

Also read: Here’s why sexual self-care deserves a slot in your wellness routine

Also read: Expert masturbation tips for women who want to masturbate really, really well

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