subject: Taking Back Lunch [print this page] For how long do you usually take lunch for? Do you even take lunch at all? Maybe you do not "have the time". If you do, it's 5-10 minutes at your desk, being distracted, as you catch up on emails, so that you can leave work at a normal time and go home to your family. Or it is some yogurt or a candy bar when you are between errands and getting your kids from school.
For many of us who have office jobs, we start believing the best way to finish all of our work is by staying at our desks. But the way to productivity isn't in the number of hours we put in it's what we have accomplished during those hours. As we continuously work, we gradually run ourselves to the ground, and we become less productive during the day. Also, the quality of our work can suffer and we can feel horrible.
Taking care of kids is tough and not stopping to renew and eat, affects the condition of those relationships. Here are some advantages you get when you get up from your desk, or your couch in your living room, walk outside and take a lunch break.
First and foremost, you physically move. That is really good for you. The more you actually move during the day, the healthier you become. And you feel much better!
Second, being outside allows you to be natural sunlight, which is way better for you than fluorescent lighting and computer screens. It is also a great way to connect with nature, if you are anywhere near a park.
Third, changing channels mid-day is an well-chosen way to let go of any stresses you have been feeling, relax, recharge and refuel.
Fourth, going out for lunch and taking a break is a great opportunity to spend time with a co-worker or a friend, which can be fun and refreshing.
Finally, when you do go to lunch, the chance that you will go back to work more awake, more focused and ultimately more productive increases greatly.
