Around 67% of office workers eat their lunch at their desks each day, and the – once-customary – ‘lunch hour’ is becoming shorter and shorter for many people across the globe.
It has become normal to try and snatch bites to eat between emails, which may seem like a productive lunch plan, especially when managing a heavy workload. However, munching those leftovers al-desk-o could actually be detrimental to your health, productivity and overall workplace happiness.
In this article, we discuss the benefits of enjoying lunch away from your desk and how working within a flexible workspace can transform your lunchtime routine.
Increased Productivity and Creativity
As mentioned, it may seem like the most efficient plan to take your lunch break as an opportunity to reply to emails, catch up on admin, and grab a quick bite to eat. However, while it may seem counterproductive to tear yourself away from your desk on a busy day, it might actually be the most beneficial thing you could do to boost your productivity and help you tackle your to-do list!
Taking a break from your desk, even just for 20 minutes – though ideally for a full hour at lunch, is a proven method of helping to sustain concentration and energy levels throughout the working day and removing the dreaded afternoon slump. By allowing yourself time away from your computer screen – your brain has time to switch off and rest, leaving you invigorated and refreshed on your return to the office.
Working within a flexible workplace can increase the likelihood of removing yourself from your desk, especially if there are additional break-out areas or private working booths where you can take a moment out for yourself and detach your brain from work. When working within a serviced office, like Arena’s locations, you will gain access to communal areas, meeting rooms, private booths and multiple private seating areas that are only available to Arena clients.
Effective Team-Building
A team that lunches together – works well together.
Studies have found that teams that eat lunch together – away from their desks – make closer personal bonds with their colleagues, helping them work more cohesively when back in the office. Whether the office you work within offers flexible workspaces, like sofa areas or break-out rooms, you and your team must take the opportunity for a change of scene to refresh your minds, focus on getting to know each other and relax before cracking on with your afternoon tasks.
Healthy Lifestyle
The sedentary lifestyle of an office worker does not lend itself to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, with recent studies finding that prolonged sitting can have serious implications for your health, including your circulatory system, musculoskeletal system and metabolism, putting sedentary individuals at a greater risk of diabetes, persistent back problems and heart disease.
A lunchtime stroll can lower the risk of these health problems and substantially improve your overall well-being.
Studies have also shown that those who remain behind their desk instead of taking a break over lunch often make poorer food choices, relying on unhealthy snacks as fuel for the working day – which brings its own set of health issues for the desk-bound office worker.
Reduced Stress
There are numerous benefits when working in a flexible workspace, including the ability to greatly reduce stress levels by allowing your mind to switch off from the pressures of the working day and having the flexibility to focus on less stressful things. Spend some time occupying yourself with non-work related topics and feel the stress melt away during your lunch break!
Those lunchtime walks are also beneficial when reducing stress as well as improving your health: exercise causes the body to release endorphins – the hormone that reduces stress and improves mood. A 2015 study found that walking for half an hour at lunchtime improves enthusiasm and relaxation at work while also alleviating nervousness in the workplace.
Workplace Satisfaction
With the benefits of reduced stress, improved health and increased productivity, who wouldn’t feel more satisfied within a flexible workspace? Remember – workers who take a lunch break together enjoy increased workplace satisfaction due to the positive relationships they build with their co-workers.
Additionally, satisfied workers are often far more engaged – which has obvious benefits for employers too. Venture out from behind your desk on your next lunch break – your mind and body (and maybe even your boss!) will thank you!
Looking For A Flexible Workspace?
If you’re a business owner or on the hunt for a new, flexible workspace, then Arena could be the perfect place for you. We have an array of premium serviced offices across the South, boasting some of the most impressive and thoughtfully designed interiors on the market, including bespoke break-out areas, private working booths and collaboration areas, business lounges and much more!
Additionally, all our facilities are only available to our clients, and no outside usage is permitted, all included within your office space agreement, regardless of how much you use them. For more information on our locations or the availability of any of our spaces, please contact our team or fill out a simple online enquiry form.