“Thriving in the Workplace” is part of a month-long “Work Well” initiative series from Huffpost staffers, designed to help improve health and decrease stress on the job. Blo
g editor, Alyssa Spatola kept a one week diary of taking a lunch break away from her desk. She describes her experience….
I usually eat a hasty lunch at my work desk every day. I voluntarily forgo my midday break – usually the only opportunity I have to walk outside and see the sun – to respond to emails with one hand while gripping a burrito with the other.
I’m not alone. Sixty-five percent of Americans eat lunch at a desk or skip the meal altogether, according to a survey. There’s mounting evidence that this isn’t smart. Not utilizing your proper lunch break – that is, one spent away from your desk – actually decreases productivity and creativity and can hinder your sense of self-worth.
And so, I am challenging myself to have lunch away from my desk for one week to see what this simple, yet often overlooked, lunch break business is all about.
Turns out, it’s awesome.
RULES
- Have a proper meal away from my desk and laptop to boost productivity.
- Go for a walk to reduce stress and improve mood
- Visit a new environment – ideally with some green space – to increase creativity.
- Avoid work talk if possible, as this is intended to be a break from work
While I understood the benefits of taking a break, I thought it might be emotionally difficult to peel myself away from the desk and break the bad habit of sitting there for such long periods of time. I anticipated feeling guilty for leaving my fellow desk-lunch eaters to recharge outside the office. But I also predicted loving the freedom of changing my surroundings.
My greatest deterrent from taking a break was that my coworkers didn’t seem to have their midday meal away from the office. Desk lunch seemed like an unspoken rule I should feel guilty of breaking. That pressure was very real for me, but also very unnecessary.
Ultimately, no one cared or even noticed that I took my lunch break. My work did not suffer from my brief absence. If anything, I felt recharged and more productive when I returned.
I actually enjoyed myself. I visited a park, got some exercise, tried a new restaurant, window-shopped and spent time with family and coworkers – all within the time allotted for my daily lunch. Taking a break didn’t only make me a better worker. It made me feel more personally satisfied.
I want to continue taking breaks. I now associate sad desk lunches with a lack of proper time management. The next time I feel like I’m too busy to take a lunch break – or worse, that I don’t deserve one – I’ll remind myself that my work and wellbeing will benefit if I just step away for a little while.
January 7, 2016