IF YOU WANT A PRODUCTIVE DAY, PRIORITISE YOUR LUNCH BREAK

Ignore Gordon Gekko. Lunch is definitely not for wimps. Lunch is for winners .

Does your team make time for lunch? The answer for many is no. A 2015 BUPA study of over 2,000 full time workers found 30% of employees ate lunch at their desk and 40% dealt with calls and emails over lunch. This is something I regularly hear; I also remember my days in recruitment – ten-hour days with a twenty-minute lunch break as standard.

The culture around lunch or any other meal break in the workplace, good or bad will affect how people think, feel and perform. If lunch breaks are kept as sacred and adequate time is given to access nutritious food, which can be eaten outside or in a pleasant environment then employee health, happiness and performance will be greater.

Why?

• The human brain uses 20% of all energy needed by the body.
• Eating regularly feeds the brain;  a person’s mood, ability to concentrate and focus will be affected if there isn’t an adequate supply of energy.

What?

• For a sustained energy release good quality carbs are king  – yes CARBS. They get a bad rep, but focus on quality and quantity. Think whole grains, fruit, vegetables, pulses and dairy.

Anything else?

•  A break also gives your mind a chance to rest, recharge and refocus.