We’re all guilty of it. Chasing deadlines, running campaigns, filing tax audits, chatting on Facebook; anything that keeps us so busy that we either forget, or purposely plan to skip our lunch breaks.
But this unhealthy habit is not only detrimental to your productivity, it can also have a negative impact on your body, mind, and even relationships!
These reasons are perfect for helping improve your productivity, feel better during your day and keep a healthy mind and body!
1) You’re eating the wrong food
Most people who skip their lunch break usually rely on carbohydrate-heavy snacks and convenience foods grabbed from the newsagents or bakery on the way to work. If you find yourself feeling consistently hungry throughout the day and need to snack your way through, you’re probably not giving your body enough nutrients to get through it!
Instead of relying on that bagel or pasta pot, try shifting your meals towards a fresh salad with lean meat and nutritious soup!
These things can all be quickly and easily prepared the night before and will leave you feeling fuller for longer while sitting at your desk!
2) People who stop for lunch are more productive
When you chomp through your meal while reading your emails or filing reports, you don’t give your brain a chance to switch off. Taking a short 60 or 30 minute break can leave you feeling invigorated and more productive in the afternoon.
So switch off the emails for a moment, speak to a colleague, go outside! Let some steam off! Your work will show for it!
3) Help your posture
It’s not really surprising that sitting eight hours a day at a desk can provoke neck, back and joint pain. Our bodies were made to move! So sitting in one position for so long puts strain on your spine and supporting muscles. Getting up, moving around and changing positions can help stretch your back out, relieving those niggles and pains and help prevent any tension.
4) Walk your way to better health
Speaking of moving, using your lunch hour to exercise is one of the best things you can do for yourself, as being too sedentary can provoke more unwanted diseases in the long run.
Your metabolism and circulation are impeded when you sit down and overtime, this can actually provoke heart disease and diabetes. Even a brisk 15-20 minute walk can do wonders for your body and mind.
5) De-stress and use your time wisely
Getting some fresh air and change of environment can do wonders to lower your stress levels. You can even use the time to do some of those errands you never get around to, like going to the post office or the bank. Think about those sixty minutes a day as the perfect opportunity to spend a bit of time on you.
6) Improve your digestion
Chances are, if you’re not utilising your lunch breaks properly, you’re eating your food as quickly as possible. When we eat our food too quickly we expose ourselves to a greater chance of indigestion, acid reflux and bloating (and I think we can all agree, no one wants that!). Eating more slowly will help your digestive system to work properly, meaning that you swallow less air, which minimises trapped wind and saves you from that horrid burning sensation!
7) Feel happier
It may sound simple, but taking a little time off work to spend time speaking to your colleagues, shopkeepers, or even people walking their dogs in the park will improve your mood, spark your creativity and keep your mind active.
As humans, we thrive off of contact with other humans, and spending all day in a cubicle in front of a screen is not only detrimental to your health, but your happiness.
There are a million more reasons why lunch breaks are important, but the most important? Because you’ve earned it! You work hard and deserve that time to yourself! Don’t be so hard on yourself, take a break. You deserve it. Your body will thank you for it as well!
