Working lunches are inevitable and sometimes unavoidable; perhaps your boss wants to catch up during the only free time he has – his lunch – or you simply need to get something important done as quickly as possible. Nobody likes to forfeit their down-time during a working day, but there are ways you can make the situation a little more productive.
The team at WorkSpott are revolutionising the way people work, by creating co-working spaces around London perfect for business-minded people needing to work freelance or remotely. Here are some ideas of how to make your lunch break more productive.
1. Go outside – if you’re spending the majority of the day stuck in an office and now you face the prospect of working through your lunch too, try spending the midday meal outside while you continue to work. This can give you a break, some fresh air and a change of scenery which will help to make you feel more productive – weather permitting, of course. If it’s raining, try a different room or just a different spot.
2. Socialise – if you have some important work to continue through your lunch hour, chances are, you’re not alone. Co-working spaces can be great for being around business professionals in the same situation, and this will make you feel more motivated to get the work done, rather than hiding away alone with a salad.
3. Switch off – you may feel like you are being more productive by working non-stop through your lunch break, but it’s sadly not the case. Allowing yourself to switch off even for just five minutes during your lunch and continuing with the work afterwards can help you re-energise and your brain to return to the task at hand in a more motivated fashion.
4. Make healthy food choices – it’s easy to want to grab something ready-made and quick so you can get back to work. But it’s much more beneficial to prepare your meal in advance, or at least make a more healthy choice if it’s last minute, to ensure you feel more refreshed rather than sluggish from a heavy, unhealthy meal.
5. Try and exercise – even with non-stop work to complete, it’s important to get away from your desk and walk around a little. Try and tailor your lunch break tasks so you’re not chained to a desk – perhaps you have a few phone calls you can make during your working lunch on speakerphone so you can walk around the room whilst speaking and stretch your legs. Every little helps.
