You know how a workplace has endless rules to comply with? I honestly think that lunch breaks should have its own rulebook too; or judging from what I see more like a “guide book” to those who misunderstand the concept of a lunch break.
Since I started my fulltime job, I have been around a lot of people, which helped me realize that lunch breaks are not taken the way they should. People usually mistake lunch break for an hour of filling your body with food, while the idea is broader than that. The idea of a lunch break is an hour that is given to you, your brain, and last but not least your stomach. If you start work at 8, and you continuously work until 1 per say… you would be very tired to accomplish more through the rest of the day. It was proven through a survey that those who take an hour break from work are more likely to be productive and energized.
Yes, so let us say when you read this you decide to start having your meal everyday at lunchtime. That’s not enough… This hour should be completely detached from your workplace. I’ve seen many people hold their sandwich in one hand while the other hand is occupied by the keyboard, or leave the workplace for a decent meal but do nothing except discussing work related matters; and that’s where you should revise what you are doing and redo it all over again. By doing so, you're giving your brain a chance to refresh, relax, and if you're lucky.. get inspired!
If it’s difficult for you to not speak of something else other than work with your colleagues try meeting up with old friends in that one hour, make new connections, socialize, or just take an hour off to do something you enjoy or a break from everything and everyone.
You might think that by working nonstop you’re getting closer to the title “employee of the month” while in reality, you’re just wasting all you energy in return of not being as productive as those who take lunch breaks. And of course, abusing your brain.
PS. This post is no excuse for employees who take a lunch break longer than an hour.