If you\u2019re part of the 20% of workers who don\u2019t take their lunch break, we have news for you. While you may think you\u2019re being more productive by working those extra 30 minutes to an hour, you may actually be doing more harm than good. Here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Few people plan their\nmornings around making a healthy, energy-boosting breakfast to start\ntheir day. So, chances are, you either skipped breakfast or grabbed\nsomething less than nutritious for your morning meal on your way to\nwork. And no, coffee doesn\u2019t count as a meal. If you then continue\nto deprive your body of what it needs to properly function, you\u2019ll\npay the price in more ways than one and your work could actually\nsuffer as a result. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes stepping away\nfrom a problem or task can help you find the solution. When you\u2019re\nso engulfed in your work, your perspective can often become muddled\nand stressed. By stepping away and focusing on something unrelated to\nwork, you may return with a fresh outlook and approach. As a result,\nyour lunch break can quite literally be food for thought. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sleeping on the job is\nnever a good idea, but sleeping on your lunch break may be. Sleep\nhelps to clear out the information holding area of your brain, and\nmove important information into the long-term memory. So, a quick\nmidday power nap may be just what you need to stay laser sharp and\nfocused. Keep it short, no more than 20 minutes, and you\u2019ll avoid\nwaking up with a sleep hangover. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hangry isn\u2019t just\na \u2018hastagable\u2019 social media term. Skipping lunch and depriving\nyour body of the proper nutrients can have a negative effect on your\nmood, leaving you vulnerable to even the slightest of upsets. So, do\nyourself, and your coworkers, a favor and eat your lunch. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re neither an\nearly bird nor a night owl, you may have a hard time fitting a\nworkout routine into your schedule. However, you may be in luck. Some\nstudies have shown that the most ideal hours for exercise are between\nthe hours of 3-6pm. This may be because physical performance is\ngenerally at its peak, and risk for injury is at its lowest at these\ntimes. Additionally, some studies suggest that your muscle strength\nmay be at its best and your lungs perform better during late\nafternoon hours. So don\u2019t feel inferior when you pass early morning\njoggers on your way to work, because that is considered the worst\nperformance time of the day. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nYour lunch break is a time for you to focus on yourself and detach\nfrom your job duties. So, while you\u2019re on your break don\u2019t answer\nemails, prepare for the rest of your day, or think about what you\nhave to do when you return to your desk. Find a place that you don\u2019t\nassociate with work and participate in mindful eating. Focus on your\nfood, your surroundings, your body, and how you feel. If you make a\nconscious effort to do this, you may become part of the majority of\nemployees that report feeling refreshed after taking their lunch\nbreak, and prepared for a productive rest of the day. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s so\nimportant, in fact, that Subway initiated a #SaveLunchBreak campaign\nin 2015 to emphasize the importance of, well\u2026 taking your lunch\nbreak. It\u2019s one of those little things that can make a huge\ndifference in the long run. If your job just doesn\u2019t allow you to\ntake a 30-minute or 1-hour lunch break, try to take multiple, short\nbreaks throughout the day. This will still give you the opportunity\nto recharge and recover from the stresses of work, and maintain your\nconcentration and well-being. \n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If you\u2019re part of the 20% of workers who don\u2019t take their lunch break, we have news for you. While you may think you\u2019re being more productive by working those extra 30 minutes to an hour, you may actually be doing more harm than good. Here\u2019s why: 1. Eat and Refuel Few people plan their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":24,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n