Sometimes, we put a bit too much pressure on ourselves. Whether it is because we feel like we’ve not done enough or that we need to achieve something, sooner or later, these weights will cause some serious damage to our physical, mental, and overall well-being. But let’s get a little more specific about how we are doing that.
As I said before, we tend to carry big weights on our shoulders, leading to compensatory behaviors that end up being, as the saying goes, a cure worse than the disease. Most of the time, we might not even be aware of it, but we fall into an unhealthy pattern that starts with disrespecting our boundaries. A pretty common behavior is skipping your lunch break.
For some unknown reason, we believe that it’s no big deal. So we don’t eat at lunchtime, or if we do, we do it while working at our desks. Each of those scenarios has its own set of problems. Let’s dig into them and find some better and healthier ways to manage those situations.
To our physical health
Our body is our temple. We need to respect and take care of it accordingly. Skipping a meal has a huge impact on our health, and we have a very helpful article on our blog that explains the importance of good nutrition to our general and work lives.
We’ve all been there; sometimes, we get so caught up in our work that we might not even feel hungry, but breaks are healthy and very much needed. To our bodies, eating is giving them the fuel they need to keep us going.
Without doing it at the appropriate time, we might be able to keep going for a while, but we will be using the emergency energy source and won’t be able to perform as well. If this becomes a habit, it can impact our bodies on a bigger scale, which will be harder to overcome in the long run.
Let’s imagine it’s not the lunch break but another mid-shift break, and you’ve already eaten. Should you skip it? Well, it might not be worth it. Yes, you might get things done a couple of minutes before. But your body needs rest as much as it needs fuel.
Taking a break from work gives your eyes a break from the screen and your body a break from the chair, which can make a huge difference. You won’t push your limits by working nonstop until your body fatigues. You’ll get a refresh that will energize you to keep going and doing your best.
To your mental health
When we want to get more things done or do them faster, we might convince ourselves that the way to do it is not to stop until we finish, but most of the time, we couldn’t be more wrong. Just think about it: How can overloading our system with nonstop work help us with stress or anxiety and, therefore, with our productivity, too? Spoiler alert: it doesn’t help.
Our attention span and concentration period have limits, so exceeding them is counterproductive. Taking time to get out of our desks, eat our meals without thinking about work, and let ourselves enjoy that moment is necessary to have a sustainable, long, and productive career. Your mental health will also appreciate it.
Some days, we might think that we are saving time by eating at our desks while working… we’ve all done it. But truth be told, we are doing the opposite. We get slower, our brain goes foggier due to the restlessness, and we might get frustrated more easily.
We’ve misused our energy and trespassed our boundaries. There must be a clear and healthy break between work and personal life. So, long story short, if you want to ensure the quality of your work, you need to respect and maintain the quality of your life.
To your overall wellbeing
Sure, we might feel like we are wasting some of our time on a break, so we shorten it, but we can make the most of that time and use it to help our work performance.
For example, if you work at an office, your lunch break could be the perfect time for some socialization. Bonding with your teammates will smooth working relations and improve the work dynamic.
You might also make some friends in your personal life. You may find that your coworker has excellent taste in music and shares some playlists or that your teammate likes the same soccer team you do.
Those moments to disconnect from the hustle that might work sometimes can clear your head so you are re-energized and ready to return. We have some other great ideas to make your breaks productive. You can check them out right here.
The shortest path can end up being the longest, and the cheapest deal can make you spend the most money. It is all about knowing how to make a good investment in the long run. In this case, it is our time and energy. Don’t compromise your health to be a couple of minutes ahead of schedule or to get something done faster… In the end, you are your most valuable investment and the one that always pays off.
See more articles by Laura Navarro.
