The strategy for the perfect workday includes a large amount of not working, surprisingly. Recent studies show that taking exercise of body-positive breaks from your job can actually increase productivity. We complain about sitting in the office all day looking at computer screens that, usually by 2pm, we need to take a walk to get some air and remember there’s a whole other world outside.
But are Americans working too hard? Nearly 51% of Americans are opting out of a traditional lunch break in order to be more productive and get more work down. Life is so hectic nowadays that our jobs are influencing our health in the way we eat. It’s more common to snack while working than getting up and away from the desk and eating properly.
Young adults aged 18-45 find it more unrealistic to take a full lunch break, while older generations still see it as a necessity. The fact of the matter is that, without a lunch break, productivity deteriorates and the mind does not function as fast. Therefore, when snacking, these select employees prioritize protein and energy in order to get a second wind to keep working.
The way I see it is like this: if you’re offered a lunch break, take it. The full hour. Release some stress, forget about what’s ahead of you for tasks and focus on enjoying the now. Work can’t over consume your life so much that you forget to eat.
