That’s Not My Age

Photo: Karolina Grabowska for Pexels

And if you’re saying ‘Lunch break? What lunch break?’ you should know that almost all employees are entitled to a lunch break. At least in theory. A 2023 study showed that only a third of those polled took their full lunch break every day, thus doing hours of unpaid overtime.

When you’re WFH, it feels harder, in my experience, to prise yourself away from your workstation and go out. Perhaps this is because you haven’t been outside to get to work, and could still be in your pyjamas. (I get dressed. Honest!) If you have difficulty leaving your desk, put lunch into your diary, like a business appointment. If you work for yourself, be good to yourself.

If your schedule is more flexible, because you’re working from home, or self-employed, or on a flexible contract, you may prefer to spread your downtime throughout the day, perhaps with 30 minutes in the morning, and the same in the afternoon.

Obviously, you need to eat, and you can incorporate the fetching or preparing of food into your time off, but if you’ve prepared your packed lunch in advance, you can do more. (And by the way, if you like to eat ‘al desko’ be aware that it’s likely to be more germ-ridden than a toilet seat…)

So seize the opportunity to get away from work, especially if what you do involves sitting at a desk and staring at a screen, because neither of those is good for us when done to excess. Avoid smartphone scrolling. We need sensory input that doesn’t come via a screen. Take time to replenish your body – and brain. There’s much more you can do…

Photo: Daria Pimkina for Unsplash

Get some exercise

Whether you’re strolling to the shops for a bottle of wine or birthday card, or power-walking in the park, walking is wonderful. I like to download something to listen to on my headphones – BBC Sounds has rich pickings – and then I don’t really mind where I’m going. Repeating a route is mentally freeing. A ‘there and back’ of 15 minutes each way is easy to achieve, and contributes to the NHS’s recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week. And research shows that midday walks improve concentration and reduce stress.

A workout can work, too. I’ve recently started Couch to Fitness, a free online course, but there are loads of free options on YouTube, or individual trainers/teachers’ websites. Or you can go for a run, swim, gym session…

Learn something

Lots of organisations offer lunchtime courses or lectures. I once learnt how to make bath bombs. Google ‘lunchtime courses’ or ‘lunchtime lectures’ and where you work.

Admire something arty

Admittedly, not everyone is within striking distance of world-class galleries and museums but broaden your thinking: colleges, town halls, pubs and outdoor spaces all hold exhibitions. Or there may be a building of architectural significance nearby. And look out for lunchtime concerts, too.

Spend time in nature

Observe the changing of the seasons up close. Experiencing the natural world is guaranteed to lift your mood, so head for somewhere green and leafy, like the park, common, playing fields… (and it’s free).

Eat somewhere new

If you always have cheese and pickle or Pret’s soup of the day, refresh your tastebuds by making something different, or trying that new café. ‘Eat in’ and indulge in a little people-watching.

Invite someone along

Take the opportunity to socialise, with colleagues, someone new at work, or meet a friend or neighbour, who may also be going stir-crazy looking at the four walls. You might make a new friend, or a new healthy habit.

N.B. The Working Time Regulations 1998 stipulate only a 20-minute break at some point, if you work for over six hours a day, although most employers are more generous. So for most of us, the lunch hour is that long and taken at, well, lunchtime.

Adrienne Wyper is a health and lifestyle writer and regular TNMA contributor. 

PS Whether you’re going into an office or WFH – if you’re looking for some new work clothes, we’ve updated the shop.