Experts say Employees who take Lunch Breaks are more Productive
It’s a time-starved world, in which employees increasingly feel pressure to work long hours and take on more responsibility. For millions of people, this drive to perform translates into working through lunch. Many would argue that they get more done this way or that they just don’t have the time to take a lunch break. While this trend may seem like the norm, employees should realize this important fact: skipping a lunch break can be bad for their health and hurt their productivity.
Workplace expert Dr. Janet Scarborough Civitellitold CNN, "When workers skip a lunch break on a regular basis, they often don't realize that fatigue and burnout are creeping up on them until they wake up one day and 'suddenly' feel less enthusiastic about their jobs or businesses." And this really makes sense. Instead of stepping back from the computer to get some sunshine or to just give the mind a break, people are just churning more and more work. But like any bad habit, this can eventually catch up with them and backfire, leading to lower productivity and increased chance of burnout.
For those employees who do not think they have time for a lunch break, it’s all about prioritizing and making it happen. One possibility is to simply schedule in a 30-minute or hour break in work calendars. If you’re one of these super busy people, try putting it in your calendar and honoring this break – just as you do countless conference calls each week.
When the designated hour arrives, get up from your desk and go outside for some fresh air. Don’t give yourself the option of working through lunch. And don’t’ think too much about it. Just take action. Whether you choose to walk around the parking lot for fresh air, grab a sandwich at a nearby café, or go fill up your car with gasoline, the important fact is this: you’re choosing to step away from your work.
Avoid the temptation to keep working via your Blackberry while taking this break. That would be cheating yourself of the benefits you can receive from taking a real lunch break. No matter what you do, whether you get in a workout or catch up via phone with a good friend, it will be helpful for you to allow yourself downtime. Then upon returning to work, you will feel more energized and focused, and ready to tackle the rest of your never-ending list of tasks and meetings.
