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Yesterday, I received this story suggestion from Success magazine. It contains good (if common sense) suggestions about using your lunch break at work most beneficially. (No — that doesn’t mean eating at your desk while you work!)
I usually eat in, though not at my desk. Today, probably subconsciously influenced by this story, I went out to a very nice, relaxing Italian restaurant with two of my law firm partners. It was a great break from the routine!
The Way It Is
Once upon a time, people sat down, relaxed and ate a hearty meal during their lunch hour. That was before the days of always-accessible emails, cell phones and marathon errand lists. All too often these days, our midday breather is foiled by stress, tasks, and a never-ending to-do list.
On top of that, when we do find a moment to munch, it’s often to speed-eat whatever salty, fatty, high-caloric foods we can get our mitts on.
In an effort to change that behavior, SUCCESS magazine put together five ways to maximize your lunch break.
The Way It Should Be
- Jettison Your Desk. Grab your sack lunch and use your break as a time to remove yourself from your workspace. Eat outside, get some fresh air, talk to a friend — just step away. You’ll feel invigorated once it’s time to slide back into your chair.
- Start Healthy, Stay Healthy. Breakfast is the key to controlling hunger by lunch time. Skip the sugary, starchy sweets like pastries and doughnuts. Slow-burning carbs, like instant oatmeal, will parlay hunger into a healthy appetite by lunch –- and can keep you from overeating.
- Make Your Errands Exercise Friendly. If you can’t avoid running errands during lunch, at least make the most of it. Maximize the amount of ground pounding you can do in an hour and complete your errands as you power walk. If possible, hit up your destinations on foot. Studies show midday exercise will help revitalize you mentally and reduce the stress throughout the day.
- Mix It Up. The actual time you go to lunch, that is. Avoid waiting in long lines with the rest of the herd. Take your break an hour sooner or later. If you’re taking a sit-down, business lunch, you’ll find quicker service and smaller crowds. Plus, it will give you more time to actually eat and de-stress instead of wasting time languishing among the masses.
- Find Lunch Buddies. One of the best ways to avoid overeating and ensure you stick to a healthy diet is to surround yourself with liked-minded people who will keep you accountable. Eat with co-workers who place an emphasis on health and nutrition. It’s a great way to encourage healthy eating habits while also building camaraderie, which benefits any organization.
This post courtesy of Success Magazine.
SUCCESS magazine is “designed specifically to serve the growing entrepreneur and the home-based and small-business markets. [It] is not only inspirational but also instructional in taking a balanced approach to success by offering guidance and insight into improving one’s entire life.”
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Comments
I feel that most people are just rushing with the lunch. I think you are right. People should leave their office and just have their lunch outside. It helps to relieve stress once you step out of office. I find it very relaxing when I have my lunch in the park. It also rejuvenates my body, giving better performance for the next 4-5 hours.
Unless you job is super compelling, and maybe even if it is, eating at the desk is just sad. Get out and stretch the legs.
Hi George,
I have to agree with you, while these tips may seem like common sense, they are also the first things that we take for granted. I recently quit smoking and subconciously I have replaced my habit with sugar.
A friend taught me a trick. Take a few extra steps for everything you do on your lunch break. If you know you will crave sugar, walk to the store down the street instead of walking to the vending machine. If I need to make a phone call, walk around the block instead of sitting in your car.
What seems like common sense has proven to be a great help. I needed the reminder.