Research has shown that taking lunch breaks can have a major impact on overall happiness and productivity at work. The problem is that when things get busy, many people (myself included) end up putting lunch last on their priority list. In fact, missing lunch breaks is a growing problem according to a 2023 survey by ezCater, which found that workers were 40% more likely to say they never stop for their midday meal compared to the previous year .
Whether it’s the frenetic pace of the workday or feeling like a slacker for taking a break, many of us have fallen into the trap of trying to make it without lunch. But here’s what I know: When I manage to take time away from the desk to eat, I feel so energized, and often, I end up doing my best afterward.
What do workers eat today?
Too many meetings, too little time in the day, and the desire to turn off the computer early are all excuses I’ve found in the past to justify skipping lunch. And according to the survey on lunch break habits, I’m not the only one: 48% of those interviewed say they skip lunch at least once a week.
It also turns out that even among the 29% of employees who set aside time in their diary for a lunch break, 62% say they don’t usually use that time for a meal. (Guilty as charged.) But nothing more. I committed to giving this meal the space it deserves in my life and to following the prompts on the calendar so that it becomes part of my daily habits.
Lunch as a useful personal investment
According to Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace report, 57% of U.S. and Canadian workers reported feeling stressed on a daily basis in 2022, up eight percentage points from the previous year.
One contributing factor is likely the chaotic pace of your day, which is why simply taking a break from it all can help. Here’s what the research says:
- In a Slack survey, people who take breaks reported 13% greater productivity than those who don’t.
- Canadian researchers have found that taking breaks from work can improve performance and well-being.
- Recent research conducted in Germany determined that longer meal breaks, in particular, helped employees feel less exhausted.
- More than three-quarters (78%) of respondents in the ezCater survey also correlate lunch breaks with improved work performance.
How I’m preparing lunch
Here’s what I’m doing to make sure the well-being of my workday, including my lunch break, remains a top priority:
- Enlisted accountability partners. I’ve asked my work team to join me in this goal, so I won’t go alone.
- Schedule a 60-minute “meeting-free” lunch break each day to prioritize mental health and physical well-being. When my calendar notification reminds me that it’s time to take a break, I’m learning to treat it like I would any other calendar item: I give it my full attention.
- Turned lunch into a leadership lesson. Not only do I eat for myself, but I send a clear message to my team that taking a lunch break means prioritizing personal well-being so I can perform at my highest level.
- Sprinkled in some group meal breaks. Having lunch with my colleagues is my favorite time of day when I’m in the office. Even just the act of sitting together, discussing a difficult project, or celebrating an accomplishment can help cultivate camaraderie.
It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind when it comes to our work. But once you recognize the clear correlation between prioritizing health and happiness at work, you’ll see that even small changes can lead to a better outlook and positive outcomes.
Diane Swint is the Chief Revenue Officer at ezCater.
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