PEOPLE WHO LUNCH .... OR DON'T

Why is it that as soon as the clock strikes 12pm, people file out of their offices to get lunch? Who made this rule that lunch time should be 12? I think it sucks personally. But most people walk around like zombies not questioning what I have just questioned and just go to the local restaurant or store to get something to eat whether they are hungry or not.

Why?

Just because that is how it is always been and who am I to question it?

Well, guess what? You are a person and I am guessing that since you are reading this you have probably got some brains, you have probably got some intelligence, so why don't you question this lunch hour thing?

I was reading an article yesterday in which it was questioning the whole 9 to 5 thing. I think we have come to a stage in our development in that we can work out when a person can work to the best of their abilities and it is not necessarily 9 to 5. It could be 7am to 1pm, then their productivity could fall right off and a warm body is sitting in the office but it is not doing anything.

It is time we wake up and question these generic times and generic working hours. What do you think?

Anyway, lets get back to the lunchtime thing. I'm sure that a lot of you are not hungry at 12. So what can you do at 12 that doesn't necessarily involve eating and could be better for you overall, health wise?

1. Go for a walk. 

If you are stuck behind a desk all day, that walk could do you a lot of good. You don't have to breath the air conditioned air. You get some fresh air and some sun and hey, you could even get a tan if you are that way inclined. This walk will leave you energised for the rest of the day.

2. Go to the gym

I know some guys at the gym I go to spend their lunchtimes working out. They tell me that they don't really eat lunch or if they do they scoff it down at their desks after their exercise. They have quite high-pressured jobs so they tell me that the gym session breaks up their day quite well and gives them some energy for the afternoon.

3. Read

If walking or working out is not your thing then you could go outside and hopefully there is a park nearby and do some reading. Of course you could do this at your desk but remember we want you away from that environment for a short time.

4. Run errands

During your working hours you might not have enough time to go to the post office or the bank or even a dentist appointment. Use this time for that. Just getting out from behind that desk and walking (please tell me you will walk the five minutes to the bank, not take the car) will help you with the energy in the afternoon.

5. Device shutdown

Heaven forbid!!!! Did I just write that? Yes I did. I know from personal experience that it would be difficult to do, but imagine going the whole lunch hour without looking at your phone. I mean you probably sit in front of a computer all day so why sit in front of a phone all lunch time?

6. Thinking time

Lunch time in the park is another great time to do some thinking. Maybe about your job or that little side business you are trying to put together or even other things in your private life. It is amazing what you can come up with by just sitting in solitude for thirty minutes or so.

There you go. You don't have to trudge off to the local restaurant because all of your other colleagues are going to. You have other things to do with your time.

Have you noticed that a few of these suggestions are good for introverts?

I wonder why that is.