Lunch Breaks: The Importance at Work
- Natalia Ferkova
- Nov 18
- 3 min read
Have you ever had that feeling of staring at the clock all day waiting for your lunch break to come? If so, take a look at this article to uncover the shocking statistics behind lunch breaks. Why are they so important to have? In a study done by Gitnux came out that a staggering 40% of people took lunch breaks only occasionally or rarely. In particular, 1 out of 5 participants didn’t take breaks for guilt reasons. They even admitted they thought their bosses would think they are less hard-working if they took regular lunch breaks.
Not only does this suggest people aren’t even using their time off, but also it is social pressure that is causing this. Actually, legally within any contract (in most countries) if you work full time you are entitled to at least a half-hour break. So, it is within your right to take that time and there can be serious consequences for employers who breach that right.
Consequences of not taking lunch breaks
According to Science Norway, people skipping lunch breaks risk facing mental and physical exhaustion. The figures speak for themselves showing that these people are up to 7 times more likely to deal with such problems. They are also twice as likely to face sleeping problems. And as we surely all know, sleep is one of the most important factors in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Benefits of taking lunch breaks
A study found that 81% of participants taking daily lunch breaks have a stronger will to be an active member in their company. This is beneficial for not only the employee but also the employer. Along with this, just half an hour spent outside leads to an almost 50% increase in productivity which once again benefits everyone. Of course it may not be possible for everyone to spend time outside every day on their break. This can be down to factors like weather, location, or opportunity. Thus, if at work you have the option to go outside at least once a day for even a few minutes, this is highly advisable.
What impact does the length of lunch break have?
To answer this we need to consider a range of factors that vary in work places. In particular, some workplaces have an arrangement where if you take only a 1/2 hour break, you can leave earlier. In this sense, it seems beneficial for the worker to take less time at lunch. For some, a one-hour lunch break may be too long. Moreover, some workplaces might not have many shops or food options around and little green space for walking in. This doesn’t incentivise people to spend a lot of time out of work. Along with this taking a longer break can break up your workflow.
Other studies however suggest that people who take an hour lunch make healthier eating choices. This is down to the fact that given more time, you not only eat more consciously but slower too. Therefore, you are likely to select your food more carefully. This boosts energy levels and in turn productivity. As a result, how much time you preferably take is always subjective. This is mainly because everyone functions differently, so it’s hard to generalize.
Conclusive thoughts
It is always important to take time out from your work day to rest your body and mind and reset. In fact, you will be more productive returning to work as opposed to eating at your desk or not taking a break at all. So, whether it’s an hour or half-hour break, your body and mind will thank you. Actually, it’s a natural human need to rest and your employer must respect that too.
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