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Perhaps right now you are reading this article while eating your lunch or dinner. We tell you why you should not do this in the future – to absorb information, especially related to your work, at the same time as food.
Workaholics are usually terribly surprised by the fact that the French government for many years banned employees from eating at their desks (only recently, to prevent the spread of coronavirus, this ban and fines for violating it were lifted).
The purpose of the ban, surprising though it may be, was to distract people from their work. According to many studies, such a pause is simply necessary in order to remain productive and not lose focus. However, the benefits of lunch breaks for our mental and physical health are not limited to this. And vice versa – the harm from snacking in front of the monitor screen is huge.
Dangerous neighborhood with … refrigerator
According to clinical psychologist Sam Von Reike, working from home often leads to unconscious ingestion of food: “We know that at any time we can get up and go to the kitchen, and some even set up a workplace for themselves there. Carried away by working affairs, we do not think about what and in what quantities we eat, we do not feel the taste of products. And as a result, we can eat more than we should, ignoring the body’s signals of satiety.
While most people worked in offices, this problem did not arise. We could only eat what we brought with us for lunch from home or ordered in a cafe.
The pandemic has pushed us to actively stock up on groceries, and now at home most of us have unlimited access to food and snacks, and there is no need to regulate portion sizes.
According to nutritionist Brooke Scheller, the result is that most of us consume more calories than “in peacetime.”
Why is it important to return to the “lunch break” format?
It would seem that when we dine in front of a computer screen, we combine business with pleasure: we get enough, and, for example, check mail and answer messages. However, Scheller strongly advises taking a break for at least half an hour or an hour. This will keep you productive in the afternoon. Otherwise, there is a risk of burnout sooner or later.
Sam Von Reike is of the same opinion: “Give your brain a chance to reboot so you can stay focused and stay creative.”
Brooke Scheller also says that the light coming from computer screens and other gadgets significantly increases the level of the stress hormone cortisol in our body (and it goes off scale for many anyway).
It is important to “go out in public” – at least half an hour to walk, instead of spending a lunch break, buried in a smartphone
Prior to the pandemic, many perceived going out to lunch with colleagues as an opportunity to socialize, to satisfy the need for communication inherent in all of us. Today, many are deprived of this, which cannot but affect our mental state.
“Most try to close the need for socialization by going out on social networks, but this is far from the same,” comments Won Reike. “To reduce the harmful effects of isolation and social deprivation, it is important to “go out in public” – take at least half an hour to walk along the street, instead of spending your lunch break, buried in a smartphone or monitor screen.”
What can be done right now
The recommendation given by most experts is to schedule a lunch break between half an hour and an hour. Put it on the calendar along with the rest of the cases. This will at least help to more carefully and consciously approach the choice of food.
If there is no way to go out for lunch from home, try to “change the picture” nevertheless. “If you’ve been working all morning in the kitchen, go out on the balcony at lunchtime if weather permits,” Scheller advises. Won Reike recommends going even further: creating a special atmosphere at dinner, for example, turning on the music. The main thing is that lunch takes place in an environment different from the one in which you spent the morning.
Experts recommend preparing your lunch in the morning, so that during the day you can only warm it up and not be tempted to eat something else.
And of course, all the experts advise to remove food – especially quick and not very healthy snacks – out of sight. Rid yourself of the temptation to quickly intercept something in the kitchen. Even in the refrigerator, it is worth organizing the storage of products in such a way that the most useful is in plain sight.
In the midst of the first wave of the pandemic, many advised “dressing for work” in the morning. This advice is still valid. Experts recommend preparing your lunch in the morning, so that during the day you can only warm it up and not be tempted to eat something else.
If, after trying to follow these tips, you realize that nothing works out for you, do not despair and do not reproach yourself. According to an April 2020 study, 30% of us have become more distracted by world events, including food. So you are not alone.
So the French were right?
As you probably know, in many Mediterranean countries there is a siesta – a break for several hours in the middle of the day. Many, especially tourists, make fun of this tradition. But in fact, it allows people who adhere to it to remain as productive as possible after lunch.
“Many of us are used to working Monday to Friday from XNUMX to XNUMX and believing that you can really relax only on weekends and vacations. However, taking a break in the middle of the day is a great opportunity to “recharge your batteries” every day. And she, this opportunity, should not be neglected, ”Scheler is sure.
Alas, workaholism is still encouraged in our culture. However, it is long overdue to recognize that it reduces the overall level of satisfaction with life. So, we have a lot to learn from the Spaniards with their siesta and from the French, who for a long time were simply forbidden to dine at their desks.