Want lifestyle tips to help you use your lunch break to relieve stress, create peace of mind, and renew enthusiasm? Good news. Each activity suggested can be completed in a half hour or less.
Even though you may have had a hectic morning, these self-care tips can help recharge your batteries and promote a greater sense of well-being.
Updated 6/21/2023
Recharge on Your Lunch Break
1. Journal for Clarity.
Stay on course with
daily or weekly personal or career goals, by taking a few moments, early in the day,
to jot down ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
Journal writing helps you note where you're at, see progress, and point to areas where you still need work.
Journal
writing is a spiritual practice as well. It can help you tap into self-compassion
and find gratitude for blessings in your life.
2. Detach from Electronic Devices.
A study from the American Psychological Association shows people who are constant checkers of cell phones, email, and social media have considerably higher stress levels than those who take breaks to unplug. Be good to yourself and just do it.
You may be one of the millions of people who suffer from "text neck." See ideas to help lessen aches caused by electronic devices.
A simple thing to do for a stiff neck is to get on your yoga mat. Then, do yoga poses including the child's pose.
A study from the American Psychological Association shows people who are constant checkers of cell phones, email, and social media have considerably higher stress levels than those who take breaks to unplug. Be good to yourself and just do it.
3. Move Outdoors and Glory in Nature.
Give yourself permission to put your career or personal cares and concerns on the shelf for a few minutes. Get outdoors to absorb the feel good vibes of a natural setting and sunlight.
Many studies indicate being in nature can help reduce the following: stress, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), inflammation, and improve short term memory.
Give yourself permission to put your career or personal cares and concerns on the shelf for a few minutes. Get outdoors to absorb the feel good vibes of a natural setting and sunlight.
Many studies indicate being in nature can help reduce the following: stress, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), inflammation, and improve short term memory.
4. Eat Lunch Mindfully.
Practice being fully conscious and present while eating. Mindful eating helps you make better food choices, digest your food fully, and slow down enough to know and enjoy what you're eating.
Practice being fully conscious and present while eating. Mindful eating helps you make better food choices, digest your food fully, and slow down enough to know and enjoy what you're eating.
To learn more read Key Reasons to Eat Mindfully with Tips to Succeed.
5. Stand, Stretch, and Move.
Do you sit at a computer or desk for a long stretch of time? It's key to good health to shake out the kinks in mind and body by exercising. A Mayo Clinic post written by Edward R. Laskowski MD describes why The impact of movement — even leisurely movement — can be profound.
I make it a point to set my watch to ring at 20 minute intervals, while I am working. When the bell rings, I remember it's time to walk around, hydrate, or do a few yoga poses or qigong exercises.
What self-care practices help you reduce stress and which physical or spiritual activities do you include in your busiest day? How have you managed that? Please share.
What things do you still need to work on to allow yourself time to recharge during your lunch break?
Please comment below. Please don't put links in comments. as I won't be able to publish it that way.
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I appreciate your visit and wish you a joyful, productive day!
Do you sit at a computer or desk for a long stretch of time? It's key to good health to shake out the kinks in mind and body by exercising. A Mayo Clinic post written by Edward R. Laskowski MD describes why The impact of movement — even leisurely movement — can be profound.
I make it a point to set my watch to ring at 20 minute intervals, while I am working. When the bell rings, I remember it's time to walk around, hydrate, or do a few yoga poses or qigong exercises.
What self-care practices help you reduce stress and which physical or spiritual activities do you include in your busiest day? How have you managed that? Please share.
What things do you still need to work on to allow yourself time to recharge during your lunch break?
Please comment below. Please don't put links in comments. as I won't be able to publish it that way.
Like what you see? Please share the love on social media.
I appreciate your visit and wish you a joyful, productive day!
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Hi Nancy,
ReplyDeleteGreat tips. I love the idea of using the bell as a timer to take a break. Spending time in and around nature and eating healthy is also a wonderful tips that everyone should be doing for both physical and mental health. We all live in such a stressful world we need to find ways to reduce it whether it is through color, exercise, or utilizing our time properly.
Thanks so much for your comment Marla. Glad this post reasonates with you. Yes, finding ways to reduce negative stress is an important key to good health. Sending hugs to you.
DeleteHi Nan,
ReplyDeleteI needed to hear your tips as I have I just taken on the new role of babysitting my toddler granddaughter. In the past I would skip lunch and skip my daily walks in an effort to be more productive. As a result I was less productive and felt exhausted a lot of the time. Being mindful of what I'm doing in the moment, and giving myself permission to take a refreshing break, has given me more energy and vitality.
That is what I've found to be true as well. As you wrote..."Being mindful of what I'm doing in the moment, and giving myself permission to take a refreshing break, has given me more energy and vitality" Thanks Beth for your comment. Hugs to you.
DeleteGood tips but it is oh so hard to detach from electronic devices as my iPhone is with me 24/7. Thanks so much for linking up at the #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 7. Shared.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dee for the visit and comment.Also, thanks for hosting such a fun blog party! Love #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 7.
DeleteI like the stretch move one. I must admit I tend to use my lunch break to catch up on FB and email...bad habbit! #MLSTL
ReplyDeleteThanks Lydia for the visit and comment. Why not try a few stretches before getting on the internet for the day? Every little bit counts. Have a lovely day and nice to be with you at #MLSTL
DeleteI usually go for a walk at lunchtime and then sit and have my soup. Although it's getting a tad hot at home at the moment (Australia) so I'm swimming for half an hour instead. The point is getting away from my desk. #MLSTL
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo for the visit and comment. I think swimming is a wonderful way to stretch and work out. It can be so relaxing as well. Nice to meet you at #MLSTL. Have a beautiful day.
DeleteOoh, much needed reminders here and I posted to my Facebook page. Thanks for some great tips and ideas!
ReplyDeleteThanks Theresa for the visit, comment, and share. Wishing you a beautiful day and happy holiday season.
DeleteGreat tips Nancy - I used to only have a 30min lunch break - but it was enough to eat some lunch, check my SM for a quick scroll, move around a bit, and generally get away from my desk - all good things when you don't get the opportunity to move much for 8+ hours.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I've shared on my SM :)
Thanks Leanne for the visit and hosting #MLSTL. Wishing you a beautiful day and happy holiday season.
DeleteHi Nancy, these are all great tips. I have the advantage of working from home and creating my own breaks and lunch times, but that can also work against me when I don't take care of myself and work too long. I've been concentrating on those 'move around' breaks indoors, as it's too cold outside for my daily walks. Shared on SM #MLSTL
ReplyDeleteKnow what you mean about working at home and creating your own breaks and lunch times. Yes, mindful living comes into play in everything we do, doesn't it? Wishing you a beautiful day and happy holiday season.
DeleteNancy,
ReplyDeleteSuch simple suggestions can make a huge difference in the way one feels! And what a great idea to take advantage of the lunch break to recharge! Self care is so important.
Agree with you Judee. Have a lovely day and wonderful holiday season.
DeleteNan, what is great about your self care tips is they fit in perfectly with the advice of 2 neurologists/researchers, Dean & Ayesha Sherzai (fin them on social media under the name Team Sherzai). They advocate that self care lifestyle practices that include eating a whole food, plant-based, low fat diet; stress management; daily exercise; adequate sleep; and social support are the key behaviors needed to prevent Alzheimer's Disease and cognitive decline. I practice all of these because the best practices to avoid dementia are the same ones to avoid other chronic diseases as well! So eat plants, move, destress, get enough sleep and be with friends and lovers!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your visit and comment. Wow. self-care and a healthful lifestyle sure go hand in hand to lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's and other disease. Keep up the good work and Happy, Healty New Year.
DeleteWow, great post. Definitely number 2 for me! I need to do more of this :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words Elizabeth. Have a terrific day!
DeleteGreat ideas Nancy. I used to take a walk during lunch.
ReplyDeleteNow that the weather may be getting cooler, perhaps you'll resume the lunchtime walks. Thanks for the comment and have a wonderful day.
Delete