Get away from work. If you work on a computer all day, try bringing a book instead of surfing the web while you eat. Somehow doing a completely different activity during lunch makes it feel like more of a break. For even more of an escape, try bringing headphones and listening to music, news, or a podcast while you eat.
Bring food you look forward to. If you aren't excited about what is waiting in your lunch bag, you are more likely to put off eating, or ditch your homemade meal for takeout. Bringing food you look forward to eating means a happier, more satisfying lunch — even when you are stuck at your desk.
Use a real plate and utensils, if possible. Treating lunch at your desk like a real meal means you won't feel like a hunched animal hurriedly cramming food down its throat, but instead like a civilized human being sitting down for a midday meal. It's also harder for coworkers to interrupt your break when they see that you actually need to wash your plate when you're done eating, not just stuff it in the trash can.
Eat with others — or don't. Speaking of coworkers, eating lunch with a work friend doesn't have to mean leaving the office. Coordinate lunch breaks with someone you like talking to, so you don't have to eat your desk lunch alone. Or if not talking to people is your idea of a break, don't be afraid to isolate yourself to get the solitary time you need. (See suggestion #1.)
End with some fresh air. Give yourself at least five minutes after you finish eating to stand up from your desk, step out of the office and clear your head. Budgeting enough time for even a short walk around the block during your lunch break can make a huge difference in your day.
What are your tips for making lunch at your desk better?
(Image: Jiri Hera/Shutterstock)
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Having a few shelf stable condiments that can perk up a dish helps too. A small salt and pepper set, some sriracha,ect.
Also 1 good paring knife so you can slice cheese or cut up an apple and other such tasks makes life much nicer.
Thank you! These are good suggestions and i believe would break up my day a little and provide that 30 minuet oasis i most definatly need.
I always get away from my desk. Always.
How many of us are sitting at our desk eating lunch while reading this article?
HELL YEAH.
jbatman, I was just thinking that same thing...
Spending extra time to make my lunch appealing has really helped me. I cut up a fruit salad instead of just throwing in an apple. I make a nice panini instead of a plain ham sandwich. I put in some yogurt with diced fruit, granola, and honey instead of the yogurt container. It is a little extra work, but it makes my lunch seem extravagant instead of thrifty. Also, I'm not jealous of others' takeout food because I know I have something good waiting for me.
I've taken sandwiches off my home made lunch entirely, but today was leftover pork tenderloin, cheese, and siriacha, wrapped in a tortilla. Mmmm, better than takeout! Apple sandwiches always are a treat, too. Thanks!
My office is FINALLY getting an actual kitchen installed... before we just had a fridge and a microwave propped up on a box (startup company anyone?). So just today I was put in charge of buying kitchen "stuff", and I'm excited to have actual dishes and flatware, and a cutting board and knife so I can cut up fruit at work instead of at home and having it go brown. I think I'm going to get a toaster too. I think these items will help make lunch much more enjoyable.
Having two picky kids at home means my lunches are often the best meal of the day! It's when I eat exactly what I want without questioning who might not like it.
I keep a cutting board and knife in my desk drawer in my office. The grounds people plant fresh herbs on the company grounds and I've been known to grab a few to add to a lunch time dish. Fresh mint makes everything better.
I have a kettle with a real tea pot, a library of loose leaf teas and a favourite mug for tea breaks as well. Real cutlery is a must.
Good suggestions, but where are the recipes? :) I'd love to see a workday lunch series with easy, good, preferably affordable lunch ideas that go beyond the obvious salad.
Ashley Erin Mayer
My brother tells me he puts up an "At lunch; please don't disturb" sign. I haven't quite gotten brave enough for that, though he claims it works!
Anyone want to eat something warm for lunch? Crock-Pot makes a lunch crock food
warmer that holds 20 oz of food and plugs in at your desk. The cost is around 25 dollars.
There are 15 of us in our office, and we normally co-ordinate lunch (that is we leave to go buy some lunch together and those that have bought food wait for everyone else to get back before they start eating). We all eat together on a big dining table and chat for a good half hour before taking the last 15 minutes to call our other halves/read some news/enjoy doing nothing in particular.
Having space to eat together and making a point of being sociable at lunchtime is such a small thing, but it makes a massive difference to how effective our team is. It also ensures that everyone has time to relax in the middle of the day, which makes the eight hours we actually spend working so much more productive.