The Benefits of Walking During Lunch Breaks
Mark Lyttleton is a business mentor, angel investor and public speaker. In addition to providing strategic and financial advice, he also advises entrepreneurs on a personal level, helping them to manage the stresses involved in running a successful business. This article will look at recent studies that suggest getting out in nature during lunch breaks helps workers to be happier and more productive.
It can be all too tempting for workers to stay at their desk through their lunchbreak, with many workers barely pausing to eat. Although they may feel pressure to work through to get the job done, this can actually be the less productive option, impairing their ability to perform at their best.
Research shows that using your lunch break to get out and about has a positive impact on everything from creativity and concentration to overall job satisfaction. Scientists have found that the simple act of walking is associated with a variety of positive effects, improving both mental and physical health. You can learn more about the positive impact of exercise on mental health by viewing the embedded PDF.
One of the biggest benefits of making time to go for a walk at lunchtime is that it enables busy professionals to squeeze some regular exercise into their daily routine. Just walking for 10 minutes per day has been shown to improve basic fitness while simultaneously reducing certain health risks.
Walking at lunchtime boosts dopamine and serotonin levels, enabling walkers to better manage stress and providing them with something positive to focus on. A lunchtime walk also provides some precious breathing space and much-needed distance from work, helping walkers to attain a fresh perspective and enabling them to see more clearly when they return to the workplace. The embedded infographic takes a closer look at the many health benefits associated with spending time in nature.
Everyone deals with work-related anxiety and stress in different ways. However, left unchecked, mental health issues can take a significant toll on an individual’s health and wellbeing. Everyone knows that stress is bad for them. Nevertheless, finding effective ways of dealing with negative feelings can be challenging.
Using your lunch break for stress-relieving activities can be an excellent way of improving both physical and mental health and wellbeing. A lunchtime walk can improve productivity and reduce stress levels, coaxing workers to invest in improving their mental health. You can learn more about the impact of employee mental health issues among UK businesses by viewing the embedded video.
