Taking Back Lunch
by Takara Alexis

Do you take your lunch break? If so, for how long? Five minutes? Ten at most at your desk while you are catching up on some emails, so you are able to leave at a decent time to get home to your family. Or it's a energy drink or candy bar on when you are doing important tasks before you have to get your kids from school.

Many of us who are working in an office, believe staying at our desks is the the only way to get all our work done. Being productive isn't necessarily in the number of hours we work, it's more in what we accomplish while we work. When we work constantly, we are likely to run ourselves down and get less work done during the day. Our work can be affected and we can also feel worse.

Taking care of kids is tough and not stopping to renew and eat, affects the condition of those relationships. Here are some advantages you get when you get up from your desk, or your couch in your living room, walk outside and take a lunch break.

First and foremost, you physically move. That is really good for you. The more you actually move during the day, the healthier you become. And you feel much better!

Second, heading outdoors exposes you to natural sunlight, which is a lot better for you than being in an office with fluorescent lights and computer screens. It is also a great opportunity to connect with nature, if you are close by a park.

Third, by simply changing channels during the day is a great way to let go of unwanted stress you have been feeling, relax, refuel and recharge.

Fourth, going out for lunch and taking a break is a great opportunity to spend time with a co-worker or a friend, which can be fun and refreshing.

Lastly, when you do take lunch, it is more likely that you'll return to work and be more active, more aware and all together more productive.