MAKE A BREAK FOR IT
GET MORE FROM YOUR LUNCH HOUR, EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT IN THE OFFICE, BY EXPLORING YOUR LOCAL AREA OR EMBRACING THE SIMPLE PLEASURES HOME HAS TO OFFER
The grey-brown river is running fast and high. A full-grown cygnet – its plumage a mucky grey-brown, too – makes slow progress upstream, against the flood. Few people are on the towpath on this cold day, just a few dog walkers in sturdy wellies.
I only nipped out to the corner shop for a chocolate bar, but a brief burst of sunshine has tempted me into extending my walk, through the town, to the river, where the view opens up, the offices and buildings step back, and I feel the wind blow away the cobwebs of the overheated office.
Thirty minutes later, I’m back at my desk.
That afternoon, the office felt different – and not just because I’d removed my wet and muddy ankle boots under my desk. The brisk walk and the shot of winter sunshine had lifted my mood. Forgetting about work and immersing myself in something different had been what I needed. Since then, lunch hours have been sacrosanct
– I always try to get outside and walk to a nearby park or at least around the block, sometimes spending the entire hour just wandering and exploring.
For the last year, working from home like many other people, my lunchtimes have been rather different. It’s all too easy to take a plate of leftovers and return to my desk. (Of course, it’s also difficult to shut out domestic tasks and concentrate on work, but that’s another story.) Work and home life have blended into each other this year more than ever before. A study by researchers from Harvard Business School and New York University has found that people are now working longer hours than they did before the pandemic – an extra 48 minutes a day on average. Around the same length of time as a lunchbreak, in fact.
I’m not the only one who’s found it harder to stop work at midday, despite the longer hours. A study by psychologists at Staffordshire University found that between 66% and 82% of workers don’t take their lunchbreaks ( you’re entitled to a minimum of 20 minutes in a 6-hour working day). It could be they’re worried co-workers will think they’re slacking, or because everyone else is still online. “We found that one of the best ways to make sure that you take breaks is to take them with your colleagues, or to be encouraged to take them by your boss,” says the paper’s lead author Dr Mike Oliver. “If they’re not physically near you, we may find it harder to act on these social prompts.”
Even short breaks are good for our concentration and wellbeing, so staying at your desk doesn’t equate to being more productive. More importantly, though, lunch is also a great time to just do something fun. So let’s all agree to down tools at 1pm – and to tell our colleagues that we’re doing so . »
“The brisk walk and shot of sunshine had lifted my mood”
“Dig out an OS map and see if there’s a wood or lake nearby you’ve never been to”
BREAK OUT
During February’s short days, it seems sensible to make the most of the brightest and warmest time of day and head outdoors for a walk or to exercise at lunch, rather than in the evenings. You’ll get a dose of Vitamin D in the process, too. If you enjoy gardening, pottering about – perhaps arranging some pots here, having a tidy there, or planting something – can leave you chilly but invigorated. It’s a good time of year to put up a nest box or to clean out an existing one. Those with a pond may notice frogs spawning on the warmer days this month. If, however, you view gardening as ‘outdoor housework,’ leave it for now – this is a time to do something you enjoy.
Walking, running or cycling can fit neatly into a lunch hour; we’ve all been exploring the places on our doorstep more in the past 12 months. Dig out an OS map and see if there’s a wood or a lake you’ve never been to, or a footpath you’ve not taken before. Nature may seem like it’s still sleeping right now, but there are signs of spring already. In the woods, nettles are starting to grow, and lesser celandine and violets are coming into bloom. While trees remain bare, it’s a good time to spot wildlife. Sparrowhawks and buzzards soar above the trees, establishing their territories, and keep an eye out for deer, which are more visible while there’s little undergrowth. One of the loveliest wildlife spectacles begins this month on lakes, as great crested grebes begin their elaborate courtship dances.
You could also take the opportunity for a longer break and visit a nearby garden or National Trust property. Primroses and snowdrops are particularly spectacular at this time of year in formal gardens. Visit somewhere you know well with a specific aim in mind and see how it changes your
view of it. You could aim to identify species of tree (a challenge, with no leaves in view) or seek out the tracks of different animals. If your working hours are more flexible now, you may be able to make the most of these spots when they’re quieter.
BREAK IN
If you’ve been hunched over a laptop, a bit of yoga or stretching can work wonders. Repetitive actions such as knitting or chopping vegetables lets your mind rest, and engrossing yourself in activities such as jigsaws, puzzles and cooking lets you forget the to-do list on your desk.
It can be nice to take a screen break over lunch, but if you fancy doing something more intellectual with your hour, the internet can certainly provide. University College London is running its popular Lunch Hour Lectures online. They’re free, open to everyone and showcase some of the research happening at the university. Recent topics have included the future of assistive technology (services and devices that empower disabled and elderly people to become more independent) and how to cool our cities in a changing climate.
Many theatre, comedy and live performances are streaming online, if you have the chance to take longer than an hour off. If you like musicals, check out the YouTube channel The Shows Must Go On!.
BREAK BREAD
Of course, the purpose of a lunchbreak is to eat and when working from home, your menu isn’t limited to dishes that fit in a lunchbox or can be eaten at a desk. Shrove Tuesday is on 16 February, but why have pancakes on just one day a year? A meal you definitely can’t make in the office, a batch of crêpes are quick to cook and feel like a treat, whether you start with a savoury filling or head straight to the classic lemon and sugar.
You could also support a local business. Many cafés and bakeries have launched delivery services and will drop off your lunch – a great way of branching out if you’ve fallen into a ham-and-cheese-sarnie rut. In the absence of colleagues, they’ll also replenish your biscuit tin so there’s cake or cookies to have with your midafternoon cup of tea.
On that note, spicing up your hot drinks is much easier at home than in the office. A bit of a change from English Breakfast, Chai involves simmering tea leaves, milk, water, sugar and a pinch each of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and cloves for up to five minutes. Strain into a large, heavy mug for a warming, comforting cuppa. And you won’t have to do a tea run for ten either!