Lunchtime tips

Work smarter, not harder

Using your lunch break effectively not only boosts your productivity and workplace performance but also appears to hold economic value for the business. A previous study¹ reported that approximately £50 million is lost PER DAY in the UK alone due to employees skipping lunch breaks. This is mainly a result of the mental fatigue and lost productivity caused by skipping meals. In essence, ignoring lunch breaks is actually bad for business, in addition to negatively impacting the health and wellbeing of employees. 

So, how should we spend our lunch breaks to boost productivity while also improving health and wellbeing? Fortunately, there are several options:

• Take a walk around the block and get some ‘outside time’. You could also invite a colleague or friend to join you as you head out for a walk or to a local coffee shop for something to eat or drink.

• Do some exercise. Read up on equipment-free exercise in one of our previous learning portal posts if you’re looking for exercise ideas requiring no equipment and minimal space. Being physically active during your lunch break, even if it’s only for 20 minutes, increases blood flow to the brain, which can reduce mental fatigue and boost creativity.

• Lessen your sitting time. If you’re not able to walk around the block or complete a bout of exercise, you can still do other forms of movement. For example, perform some stretches at your workstation, make a phone call standing up, or get yourself a glass of water. 

• Use your lunch break to get creative. Write in your gratitude journal, meditate, read a book, listen to music, or do some artwork.

• Eat something. Bananas, dark chocolate, carrots, blueberries, fish, avocado, eggs, and whole grains are all great productivity-boosting foods!

In summary, get moving to effectively boost productivity, increase circulation, and reduce tension in both your body and mind. If you spend a lot of time focused on a screen, using your lunch break to do another activity that does not involve a digital screen can help to relieve eye strain too. Choose healthy, whole foods to keep your energy levels stable and your brainpower high. Use your lunch break as your secret weapon to recharge and refresh ahead of the afternoon session because overworking leads to underproducing.

¹Stride, R. (2011). Are you getting a proper lunch break? Practice Nurse, 41(7), 35