After a commute into the office, even if it’s a home office, a lunchtime break is well deserved and after a busy morning, pretty vital.
As well as providing us with an opportunity to eat and drink, lunch breaks also allow our minds to rest, meaning we’re refueled and ready for a productive afternoon.
But according to The Digital Detox survey, over a third of office workers are now skipping their lunch breaks and instead putting in unpaid overtime. Unsurprisingly, this also means that over 40% feel burnout at some point in the week. In some cases working over lunch may provide some work balance later in the day, but in most scenarios it’s worth giving yourself at least a short break.
So how can you make the most of your lunch break? Here are our top 5 tips:
- Step away from the desk and practice some mindfulness. For some this may mean taking a walk in the sunshine to a local park, stretching your legs and getting fresh air. For others this could mean listening to a relaxing meditation through an app such as Insight Timer, or taking a book to work and reading a chapter over your lunch. Less focus and more freedom will give your brain time to revive.
- Take some time to exercise. If your morning commute doesn’t including running or cycling, and you are too tired for the gym by the evening, why not have a jog or speedwalk around the area to get your steps in. Many workplaces are offering on-site classes or subsidized gym memberships, allowing you to make the most out of the time you have available.
- Podcasts are a great way of being entertained or educated either on the go or from the comfort of your office chair. Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett offers an interesting take on business and life with some incredible guests; Happy Place from Fearne Cotton explores happiness and what it means to each of her guests; and if you’re a murder mystery fan something like UK True Crime Podcast could be right up your street!
- Learning is also an invaluable use of your time, and many individuals are now embracing ‘lifelong learning’ and investing in themselves. Whether it’s a language, a new area of your industry or something more fun like mosaic making or crafts, there are heaps of courses online. Over a few weeks or months you could have a new skill!
- And lastly, socialising is the most uplifting way spend your time. Build rapport with your workmates or friends by having a walk and talk, sharing news and exploring your life and interests outside of work.
Many of us have a precious 60 minutes in our day which if we carve out for ourselves, can be invaluable and not only allow us to have a more productive afternoon, but also allow us to really make the most of our time.
