When you’re busy at work, it can be tempting to have a working lunch where you remain at your desk. However, while it may seem like a good idea that will help you get your work done quickly, in fact, the opposite is likely to be true. Instead, whether you have an office lunch delivery or bring your own, there are many benefits to leaving your desk to eat lunch.
Health Risks
Remaining at your desk for lunch will result in a longer period of inactivity, which comes with a number of health risks. It increases the risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. It can also lead to muscle tension and sore joints.
Mental health too is impacted as by not taking a break from your desk, you are more likely to suffer from stress, fatigue, and burnout. If you are suffering from stress at work, mental health advice can be found from good sources like Mind.
Reduced Productivity
By not taking a break, you will likely find that tasks take longer, resulting in reduced productivity. You will also likely find that you become less creative as your tired mind struggles to find inspiration.
Avoiding lunch at the desk
If you find yourself tempted to stay at your desk to eat, put strategies in place to avoid it. Make plans to meet friends or colleagues away from the office so you have to leave. If you have an office lunch delivery from a provider like www.crumbsdelivered.co.uk/index.php/product-category/lunch, arrange to have it delivered to a staffroom or somewhere other than your office.
Alternative Lunch Venues
Alternatives to lunch at your desk will depend on where you are working. There may be other places on the premises, but it can also be nice to go off-premises to a local café. Fresh air is beneficial to mental health, so a nearby park is also a good option. Ideally, make it somewhere you can walk to for the health benefits of exercise as well as lunch away from your desk.