Work doesn’t stop after two, why should you?

Eating a big fat lunch can leave us feeling sleepy and unambitious for the remaining few hours of work. This mid-afternoon slump can turn a desk into the comfiest of pillows and the words on the screen into a bed time story. But this dip in productivity could be avoided if we just used our lunch wisely.

1. What you eat

This classic brain food is the perfect lunch to get you pumped for the rest of your day. The omega-3 in fish will also reduce your risk of stroke and dementia too. Nuts are great for a lunch time snack and will leave you feeling much better than a greasy burger.

If you still need that bit of sugar to keep you going, try dark chocolate. The caffeine and antioxidants will help to fuel and fire up the hours after lunch.

A steady level of raw carrots will also give your body the glucose it needs to function productively.

2. Break away from your beloved desk

You want to get your work done, fair enough, but typing with one hand and having half a sandwich in the other is counterproductive. Only one in five of us actually take a break on our lunch break, which means 80% of us are unknowingly eating into potential productivity.

A lunch break should involve stepping away from the laptop, eating a nutritious meal, and being more productive in the second half of the day than the first.

Getting some fresh air will help improve your cognitive function and creativity.

3. Nature nurtures the brain

Research has shown that being around nature can refresh our attention span. If you’re lucky enough to work in the countryside or near trees and flowers, take advantage of the benefits on your lunch break.

Moving to a cafe after lunch for a change of scenery, exercise and mindfulness can help to refocus your brain on the task at hand as well.

Close