It’s the time you’ve been waiting for all morning at work: the long-awaited lunch break. The moment that you can sit back, enjoy your meal and relax with a much-deserved break from work.
While you may be tempted to stay seated at your desk, there are many ways that you can spend your lunch break that are more healthy and active. Who says your lunch break has to be sedentary too? Check out five healthy ways to use your break at work.
Go for a Walk
Alright everyone, this one is easy. Simply stand up, start walking - and that’s it! The lunch break is the perfect opportunity to go for a brisk walk, either with a walking partner or on your own. Walking has been proven to have multiple health benefits, including improved cardiovascular strength, improved joint strength and weight control. By adding in just 20 to 30 minutes of walking every day, you will start to see increased energy levels and a clearer mind, making you ready for a productive afternoon.
Go to the Gym
Going to the gym is another great option for the lunch break if you’re given a little bit more time. An hour is more than sufficient to make your way to a nearby gym and get in a quick 20 to 30-minute workout. Many office buildings even have a private gym for tenants to use, which makes a lunch-break exercise routine that much more accessible. If you’re looking for a good quality workout to do in a short period of time, check out this great article that lists some high-intensity exercises for the time-crunched worker.
Eat a Healthy Lunch
The lunch break is designed in essence for one thing: to allow time to eat lunch (of course!). So why not make that part of the equation healthy too? Instead of constantly buying fast food or packing chips and cookies for snacks, invest some time into packing a healthy lunch for yourself. If you like to cook healthy dinners, leftovers are always a great option to continue the nutrition to the following day. Healthy snacks to pack include things like fruits and veggies, organic granola bars or trail mix. Salads are also a simple option for a lunch meal to add to a balanced diet (check out this blog for healthy salad recipes that are easy to make). You are what you eat; invest the time to feed yourself healthy food and your body will thank you!
Meditate
Mental health is just as important as physical health, so why not use the lunch break to clear your mind? We all know that the workplace can frequently add a lot of stress to our lives, which in turn can create anxiety and lower overall productivity. Meditation is a great way to let go of those daily stresses, clear your mind and reset yourself for the tasks ahead. By dedicating even 10 minutes of your lunch break to some purposeful meditation, you can come back to the afternoon feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Here’s some simple and short guided meditations to try out on your next break!
Do Some Desk Exercises
If you’ve read the other options and feel like they’re just really not possible for you given your time constraints at work, this one is for you! Anyone can do some simple desk exercises to reduce sedentary time without even having to leave your desk area. Movements like tricep dips, lunges, squats or on-the-spot running are all manageable no matter where your office is.
And there you have it! Five ways to ensure that your lunch break is happier and healthier than ever.