How to Make the Most of Your Lunch Hour at the Office

Your lunch hour is an opportunity to refresh during the workday before finishing your work in the afternoon. If you’ve rocked up to the office full of drive and enthusiasm, attention spans can dwindle as the hours’ pass. Once lunchtime hits, try and use your time productively. We appreciate that you may want to stay at your desk, but this isn’t going to do your productivity levels any favors.

When you maximize how you spend your lunch hour, you can return to your desk with a clear mindset and perform at your best. If you’re not sure what to do, here are some ways how to make the most of your lunch hour.

Go for a Run

Exercise is one of the best things you can do to lower stress levels and re-energize yourself. If you’ve had a tough morning at the office, you may need some time to get away from the hustle and bustle. Otherwise, any stress you keep hold of will only worsen once the afternoon hits. Going for a run can be a great way to let off steam. A 30-minute outside can give you some much-needed fresh air and help you return to work feeling full of motivation. Make sure to factor in time to eat too. After a run, it’s best to eat something healthy. We understand you may crave some junk food, but this is going to undo all the calorie-burning you’ve just done!

Perform Breathing Exercises

Try finding an area near your office where you can sit in silence for a couple of minutes. This may be an empty conference room or even your car. When you spend a few minutes conducting breathing exercises, your mind and body will relax immediately.

This can help in clearing your head and increasing focus when you return to your work duties. Breathing exercises help you retain a positive mindset and relaxed attitude – both of which are mandatory for excelling at work.

Play an Online Game

If you have your smartphone handy, why not put it to good use and play some fun online games? Whether you’ve got an iPhone or an Android, their app stores are bursting at the seams with apps that can provide plenty of fun-filled entertainment. Those who enjoy playing online casino live games can do so at PlayLive. They have an array of titles to choose from, many of which you could win real cash prizes from!

Log Your Thoughts

Those who have had a stressful morning at work may need somewhere to unleash their inner thoughts. Logging your thoughts on a piece of paper or your notes app can be very therapeutic. Once your thoughts are down in black and white ink, this can help you be more organized. You may benefit from starting a journal too. This can be an excellent way to express how you’re feeling.

Read a Book

Employees who want a relaxing lunch break will surely benefit from picking up a book and getting stuck in it. Reading can help you unwind, calm you down and take your mind to another place. Whether you’re a lover of fiction or non-fiction, there are countless book genres to check out. Try and find a quiet zone to read. Otherwise, background distractions may get in the way and hinder your experience.

Enjoy the Outdoors

If the weather is nice and you don’t want to stay cooped up in the office, why not get outside during your lunch break? There’s nothing that beats getting some fresh air in your lungs and hearing the sounds of the birds chirping away.

Whether you go for a short stroll outdoors, head to a nearby park, or just find a bench on the street to sit down, enjoying the great outdoors can have all kinds of benefits on your health, like reducing stress and anxiety. Just make sure to keep an eye on the time, as you may get lost in nature and find your lunch hour has overrun!

Spend Time with Colleagues

Many people form close connections with their colleagues, both on a professional and personal level. During work time, you’ll obviously be discussing all things related to the business. However, once lunchtime strikes, why not use this as a chance to connect with your workforce on a deeper level? If you have a staff canteen, you can all sit together, converse about life and build strong connections. Try not to talk about anything linked to work! Your lunch hour should be the time you chat about anything but!

You can do whatever you want with your lunch hour (within reason, of course!). Whether you use the time to socialize with colleagues, get outdoors, or play some fun online games, there is no need to twiddle your thumbs and watch the clock tick away on your lunch!