Every day, lots of people will sit at their desks with these thoughts running through their heads, opting instead to power through with their to-do lists and inboxes full of emails.
However, while working straight through lunch and cramming in a sandwich may provide you with more time, it does nothing for the quality of your work, not to mention your mental and physical wellbeing.
Studies have shown that taking
time to #GetOutside during the day boosts your mood, making you happier and
more productive once you do return to your desk.
It gives your brain some
downtime, or time to process what you did that morning, and then feel
rejuvenated and refreshed for those tasks you need to tackle during the
afternoon.
Even though for most office jobs
lunch breaks are unpaid, there is still a sense that people feel they will get
told off for taking time out off the office and ‘wasting working time’. But a
happy, healthier workforce will ultimately benefit employers too and even if you’re
unable to take a full lunch hour, just 15 minutes outside getting some fresh
air will have an impact – creativity and innovation happen when people change
their environments, and its hard to feel positive about a job when you are
chained to your desk!